Epileptic Ashley Wilson navigates across the Indian Ocean

Matt Jones - Editor 11:24 30/04/2015
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  • Where there is a will: Ashley Wilson (r) and James Ketchell are hoping to row their way across the Indian Ocean.

    Ashley Wilson has been epileptic since he was seven and is successfully battling cancer – so the daunting prospect of navigating 3,600 miles across the Indian Ocean doesn’t faze him like it would most people.

    The Indian Ocean is one of the least rowed on Earth, with just 41 recorded attempts, only 19 of which have been successful, with only four achieved by a pair.

    Before he undertook the training and weight gain necessary to think about tackling the route from Geraldton, Western Australia, to Port Louis, Mauritius, Wilson weighed just 40 kilos. 

    Add on his epilepsy and the fact he’s in remission from Hodgkin’s lymphoma and you begin to get a picture of just how gargantuan the challenge facing him is.

    It seems impossible, but as Wilson’s website – www.nothings-impossible.co.uk – states, he’s aiming to prove that that’s not the case.

    “I was told when I was younger that ‘you can’t do this and you can’t do that’, so by doing this challenge I want to prove to youngsters that despite any condition you may have, your life doesn’t have to be restricted and you can do things,” said Wilson, resting up in Dubai before beginning his quest on May 8.

    One reason why the challenge will be less daunting is Wilson’s rowing partner, James Ketchell, a serial adventurer.

    Ketchell rowed single-handedly across the Atlantic in 2010, the following year he climbed Mount Everest and in 2013 he embarked on an 18,000-mile unsupported cycle trip around the globe – the only man to ever do all three.

    Although Wilson and Ketchell’s main aim is to complete the challenge safely, they are also hoping to break the record for the crossing by two people, which currently stands at 85 days, two hours and five minutes.

    To put this in perspective, more people have been into space than have rowed across the Indian Ocean.

    In order to withstand the extremes in weather, weight loss and fatigue he will face, not to mention the possibility of seizures, Wilson has already had to resort to extremes.

    Around 18 months ago, he realised that to make any serious headway bulking up, he was going to have to get serious.

    He enlisted the help of Exeter-based nutritionist Ben Crook, who runs his own company Blueberry Nutrition, tailoring diet plans for everyone from pop stars to elite MMA competitors. 

    “Ashley weighed 40kg when I met him,” said Crook. “The biggest challenge he faced was to increase his body mass. Because he’s so small, saying ‘eat this’ and ‘eat that’ wasn’t going to work because Ashley’s simply not used to it.”

    The row will be very taxing on Wilson’ s muscles as they will be in almost constant use – rowing two hours on and two hours off almost constantly for over three months.

    Crook looked to increase Wilson’s muscle mass over a period of time.

    Doing so in general was a slower process than for a person of regular constitution due to Wilson’s added health complications.

    Wilson now weighs 60kg, although Crook still hopes he can add more.

    “Ashley needs to eat around 6,000 calories a day. He also has to eat more to increase his body mass so he can train.”

    Although both will aim to consume enough to fuel themselves each day, undoubtedly they are almost guaranteed to lose weight as not enough calories will be taken in.

    In which case, it is vital to have an excess amount of body mass to combat this as much as possible.

    That doesn’t just mean carrying an extra couple of pounds in body fat and hoping your body can use the energy when needed.

    As body mass decreases, it will be a combination of fluids, muscle mass and body fat (as well as other tissues) that are lost.

    Crook described the duo as “impressive men” and said: “I’m very proud to be involved in this. It’s a massive challenge, but when you consider the hours of training, the sacrifices, the dietary regime Ashley’s going through, it’s extremely commendable. 

    “It’s a superhuman task and Ashley is a shining example to people. And don’t underestimate them. I’ve got every faith in them and I think they will do it.”

    A week or so ahead of the departure date, Wilson says his overriding emotion is “pure excitement”.

    He freely admits, however, he’s had some low moments during the course of the last two-and-a-half years, when his dietary duties have weighed him down or he hasn’t felt like hitting the gym.

    “It’s obviously been difficult not having the motivation some days, but you have to be disciplined when you don’t want to be,” he said.

    His routine over the last 32 months has been a few hours in the gym most days and doubling his daily intake of food. He’ll need to take on 6,000 calories per day, even so he’ll still be burning even more. 

    “My diet’s doubled but I still feel slight. Now we’re here though it’s been well worth it,” he said. “The goal is to get across safely but it would be the icing on the cake to break the record.”

    With the experienced Ketchell by his side, Wilson believes failure is impossible. 

    “James has been an incredible support and he didn’t once try to talk me out of it, in fact he’s been exactly the opposite,” he added.

    To add to the endless list of obstacles in their way, the route they are taking will cut through one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

    The boat the two will use is the custom-built carbon fibre, The James Lewis, an incredibly advanced vessel which will have an AIS radar system on board, as well as 200 watt solar panels, a satellite phone, a radio and a methanol fuel cell for the days without much sun.

    “I’m really excited to get out there, and with the boat we have, we feel we have a real chance to break the record,” said Ketchell.

    “Overall, the goal is to raise awareness and show that you can do anything you put your mind to if you just take that first step.”

    He has been on specialist training provided by one of the duo’s charities, Young Epilepsy, to help if Wilson goes into seizure, expected to be at least once a week, and he will know exactly what do when that happens.

    Young Epilepsy, the Scout Association and Elifar Foundation are the three charities the duo are hoping to raise £100,000 (Dh564,000) for.

    For more information about Crook’s nutritional work visit www.blueberry-nutrition.co.uk, and to sponsor Wilson and Ketchell visit www.nothings-impossible.co.uk.

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