Years ago South African couple, Riann Manser, a continental trekker, and his girlfriend of 14 years, Vasti Geldenhuys, a barrister, were wanderlusting for a romantic holiday in New York City.

To get there, however, they took neither a plane nor a cruise. Only a 23-foot-long (7 m) row boat, powered by their own might.

On December 30, 2013, they set sail from Agadir, Morocco for a 6 month voyage across the tempetuous Atlantic Ocean.

Before long, they came face-to-face with Death. With nothing and no one around to save them.

In His Own Words...

"Approximately 30 days into our ocean crossing, we rowed into a massive north Atlantic storm.

Thirty-five foot (11 m) swells were breaking all around us. It was as though we were stuck going up and down an elevator in a tall building – but with little to support us from toppling overboard.

A violent force from one wave hit the boat, lifting it and then capsizing it. I was thrown from what little safety I had into the open waters.

I swirled around under water, not knowing which way was up or down, gasping for air. Meanwhile, Vasti was stuck underneath the boat, still trapped in her seat by her foot harness. How was this going to end?

Luck, perhaps, saved us. The anchor rope had entwined with my legs and gave me something to grab onto, while Vasti eventually forced the boat to self-right, as it is designed to do. With her help, I was able to thrust myself back into the boat – and to continue our journey together.

What had just happened could have ended very differently – Vasti could have been severely injured by the large mounted oars, and I could have been washed away into the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

We were fortunate..."

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