Anders Svedlund facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anders Svedlund
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| Born |
Anders Johan Svedlund
1926 Mellösa, Sweden
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| Died | 1979 Auckland, New Zealand
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| Other names | Great Pacific Rower The Crazy Swede |
| Occupation | Ocean Rower |
| Known for | Historic Ocean Rows |
Anders Johan Svedlund was an amazing ocean rower. He was born in Sweden in 1926 and later became a citizen of New Zealand. Anders was one of the first people to row across huge oceans all by himself! He was the first to cross the Indian Ocean and the first to row solo on the Pacific Ocean. The Ocean Rowing Society, which keeps track of ocean rowing records, lists two of his trips as "historic." He was also the fastest ocean rower of his time.
Contents
What is Ocean Rowing?
Historic Ocean Journeys
Anders Svedlund completed two incredible ocean rows. He did these trips completely alone, without any help from others. He didn't have modern tools like water makers (to turn salt water into fresh water), satellite phones, or GPS. He also didn't have emergency beacons or life rafts. The Ocean Rowing Society says these conditions were "not much different from the days of Columbus." They call these early ocean rowers "test pilots, but without a parachute."
Rowing the Indian Ocean
In 1971, Anders Svedlund became the first person to row across the Indian Ocean. He started in Kalbarri, Australia, and rowed to a beach near Diego Suarez, Madagascar. This amazing journey took him 64 days. He covered a distance of about 4,313 miles (6,941 kilometers) in his boat, which he called Roslagen.
Anders achieved the fastest average speed ever recorded on any ocean at that time. For over 30 years, no other solo rower crossed the Indian Ocean. His speed record for a solo rower on the Indian Ocean has never been broken, even with new, high-tech boats! His boat, Roslagen, was the fastest ocean rowing boat in history from 1971 to 1992.
Rowing the Pacific Ocean
Three years later, in 1974, Anders made history again. He became the first solo rower to row on the Pacific Ocean. He used the same boat, which he had renamed Waka Moana. He started in Chile and rowed all the way to West Samoa, stopping in Tahiti.
This journey was even longer, taking him 191 days. He covered about 6,462 miles (10,400 kilometers)! When he arrived in Tahiti, he was welcomed by Marie-Therese Danielsson. Her husband, Bengt Danielsson, was part of the famous Kon-Tiki raft trip. She later wrote an article about Anders, calling him "The Great Pacific Rower."
Anders' Way of Life
Anders Svedlund didn't seem to care much about setting records or getting famous. He didn't even keep a detailed diary of his trips! After rowing across the Indian Ocean, he simply went back to Auckland and started his old job as a house painter, without telling anyone where he had been.
His journals, when they were found, weren't about the dangers of the sea. Instead, they were full of his thoughts about life and big questions. For him, rowing seemed like a deep, personal journey. Any achievements were just a bonus.
When asked about the hardest parts of ocean rowing, Anders once joked that he couldn't stand on his head for long enough because the boat moved so much! He believed you needed to stand on your head for at least an hour a day to feel normal. He also said he was never bored, even without a radio or books. He felt the sea was "a splendid, ever-changing spectacle" that made him so happy he would often sing old Swedish folk songs.
Personal Life
Anders never drank alcohol. He was also a vegetarian.
His Legacy
Today, a special part of the Maritime Museum in Auckland, New Zealand, is dedicated to Anders Svedlund. He is remembered for his incredible courage and pioneering spirit in ocean rowing.
