Ian Rivers, former SAS soldier, on seeking challenges, kidnap in Syria and navigating the Atlantic without GPS

Girl on the River

Ep.17 Ian Rivers has spent his life seeking adventure. From a childhood he describes as "feral" right through his career in the SAS, he's always looked for the next challenge, and his life hasn't been short of incident. He's sailed oceans and climbed mountains, been kidnapped in Syria (and escaped, using just the natural world to help him navigate his way to safety).
And now, as a civilian, he's found his next adventure . In May 2021 he will be setting off to row, solo and unsupported, across the North Atlantic using just a sextant and charts to find his way.
I talked to Ian about:

• His early life in London
• Basic training in the army
• Different physiological responses to the same regime
• Discovering the thrill of the physical challenge
• The type of person that joins the special forces
• Whether he considers himself to be brave
• Learning to navigate by the stars
• Escaping kidnap in Syria and finding his way back to safety
• His Atlantic row and what inspired it
• The route and how he will navigate without GPS
• What he's most looking forward to and what the challenges will be
• The charities he's raising money for
• The challenges of transitioning to civilian life
• How we can follow him on the row

Resources:
Ian's website: Row Sentinel (where you can track him on the row).
You can donate to Ian's fundraising here.
Read more about the SAS Regimental Association, or SASRA, here and about St Michael's Hospice here.