Are we ready to conquer the impossible challenge?

ON THE west coast of Africa, if you stare out to sea:

The average human can only see as far as the horizon, 5km away. After that the Earth starts to curve.

Far, far away is the Caribbean. And between you lies the vast Atlantic Ocean – 3000 nautical miles of wild and dangerous deep blue sea.

Could a simple homo sapiens, powered by only his or her human engine, conquer such a challenge? A distance from Cape Town to Mount Kilimanjaro – on water?

That’s precisely what a rare breed of mad men and women have done: rowed across the Atlantic. Starting with two Norwegians, Frank Samuelsen and George Harbo, in 1896. And solo: John Fairfax of Britain, in 1969 – a mind-blowing ordeal of 180 days, from the Canaries to Hollywood Beach, Florida.

Can we imagine the head space of such irrepressible, indomitable adventurers? We could ask one of our own.

Riaan Manser is larger-than-life – right out of an adventure story of old. He’s rowed the mighty Atlantic twice and had many pioneering adventures more.

His creed is three simple words. Attitude. Perseverance. Courage.

On attitude: “There is always something/someone else to blame for our misery and misfortune. Amid the toughest times in our lives we amazingly still have choices

“The right attitude starts with you, not the person next to you or the person across the table from you. It starts with you.”

On perseverance: “There is an ocean between saying… and doing. So next time you say you will

‘do whatever it takes, no matter what’, remember that finding good excuses will always remain just that… excuses. To persevere is to see something not fun, through to the end. No matter what.”

And: “Courage is something we think we all have, but, in truth, significantly lack. Taking that first step – when everyone else around you is finding the reasons not to. That’s courage. Get up, get going and get those dreams from theory to reality. No excuses.”

Blunt words. But Manser doesn’t have to be eloquent: he’s walked the talk. He’s also the first person on Earth to cycle around Africa – over 24 months, alone and unaided, pedalling a staggering 37000km through 34 countries.

Many around us talk a big game. But prove to have “big hat, no cattle” – as the Texans tease.

South Africa’s at the beginning of many new journeys, as a nation, as nine provinces – on an economic recovery from the edge of despair.

Amid the army of warriors assembled for battle, each individual will need to summon the stamina and strength to conquer the impossible.

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The right attitude starts with you, not the person next to you or the person across the table from you