The Single Handed Sailor experienced real tragedy in 2008 when at the hands of a drunk driver he was nearly killed and left to die on the side of the road. The doctors told his parents to be prepared because he was not likely to live through the night. He miraculously did survive, but needed to have an arm and a leg amputated in the process. Now ask yourself? How would you carry on at this point? Would you just live off the insurance settlement and become relegated to obscurity? Or would you strive to achieve greatness?
I went on a mountain trek with him about a year ago and even though he is missing a leg, he was way more up to the task then I was. He was leaving me in the dust and was waiting for me at various parts of the climb. This is truly remarkable because we are around the same age and I go to the gym 5 days a week. I am NOT in bad shape. Was he gloating about this? Of course not. He remained modest despite the fact that he definitely earned some bragging rights that day.
In 2014 Dustin determined he wanted to be the first double amputee to complete a solo round-the-globe sailing mission and while he has definitely had some setbacks as far as equipment failures are concerned, he never gave up. I get updates from him on a regular basis about where he is and what sort of crazy adventure he is involved in but recently, his latest pictures really blew my mind. It is also worth noting that at the start of this trip he had very little sailing experience.
On what he said was his only "sunny and glassy day" Dustin posted these pictures from off the coast of Antarctica a few days ago.
I am just in awe at this and to be honest it seems a bit spooky to me. I mean, he is completely alone down there. He has a store of food on board but for the most part he has to catch and cook all of his own grub, as well as control a small craft in what is many times very frightening and unforgiving oceans, all with one less arm and leg than most people have.
in the middle of a blue iceberg
He showed us some videos of penguins coming up on his boat and doing their thing on the shore as well. He is basically living a National Geographic special right now and I think it is just incredible. I mean, I really admire that guy. He was handed a very raw deal in life more than a decade ago and not only has he coped, which in itself would be commendable, he has thrived and went on to accomplish things that most of us don't have anywhere near the courage necessary to do it.
It kind of puts things into perspective for me anytime i am letting life get me down. Sometimes I take it totally for granted exactly how privileged I am. I know that most of what I do on this page is to be judgemental about films and what not but this real-life story.... it will be a movie one day and I think rightfully so.
all photos used with permission and were taken from the Single Handed Sailor website