Out of the Comfort Zone At 51,Rona Cant,an unhappy divorcee,decided to become an adventurer.Since then,she's sailed round the world and dog-sledded to the Arctic. Celia Dodd Is Impressed Until her early forties,Rona Cant was a stay-at-home mother of two who remained well within her comfort zone.For years she put her family's lives before her own,choosing instead to help her husband and children to achieve their goals rather than dreaming about what she would like to accomplish. Yet,by her early fifties,Cant had transformed herself from housewife to adventurer.She faced death several times while taking part in the world's toughest yacht race and joined a dog-sledding expedition to the Norwegian Arctic that other explorers had said was impossible The dramatic change began with Cant's divorce at the age of 42, when her children were 14 and 10.Cant,now 57,left her husband because she wanted the freedom to fulfill her own potential.She had already run a successful soft-furnishings business from home but always felt the desireto push her boundaries further. Even so,when independence finally arrived it was daunting. "Walking away with two children,not knowing whether I would be able to cope financially,was scary,"she remembers."My husband used to take
Out of the Comfort Zone At 51, Rona Cant, an unhappy divorcee, decided to become an adventurer. Since then, she’s sailed round the world and dog-sledded to the Arctic. Celia Dodd Is Impressed Until her early forties, Rona Cant was a stay-at-home mother of two who remained well within her comfort zone. For years she put her family’s lives before her own, choosing instead to help her husband and children to achieve their goals rather than dreaming about what she would like to accomplish. Yet, by her early fifties, Cant had transformed herself from housewife to adventurer. She faced death several times while taking part in the world’s toughest yacht race and joined a dog-sledding expedition to the Norwegian Arctic that other explorers had said was impossible. The dramatic change began with Cant’s divorce at the age of 42, when her children were 14 and 10. Cant, now 57, left her husband because she wanted the freedom to fulfill her own potential. She had already run a successful soft-furnishings business from home but always felt the desire to push her boundaries further. Even so, when independence finally arrived it was daunting. “Walking away with two children, not knowing whether I would be able to cope financially, was scary,” she remembers. “My husband used to take
care of everything to do with the house and out finances,and suddenly I had to take on all of that-buy a new house,deal with solicitors and so on. I made mistake but that's how youevolve." Cant moved from West London to Oxford and,despite having no A levels,embarked on a combined English literature and geography degree at Oxford Brookes University.She took a sailing course,almost by chance,because a friend said it was a good way to meet people.Cant is scared of water and had never been on a yacht before,but she was hooked. "I love the freedom of sailing so much that I didn't want to go home.I asked the skipper if we could sail due south and when he told me that would mean we wouldn't hit dry land,I said 'fantastic'.He said,if you feel like that,you should think about a round-the-world yacht race that's open to amateurs.So I applied for the BT Global Challenge." The Global Challenge is a race between 12 identical yachts,each crewed by a professional and 17 amateurs,sailing 32,000 miles around the world the "wrong"way against the prevailing winds and currents,and starting and ending in Southampton.There were more than 4,000 applicants for 180 places but Cant was chosen for the 2000 challenge. She had plenty of time to get fit and find f25,000 to fund the trip largely from savings and living frugally on her earnings as a PA in an Oxford college "I trained hard because I knew that,at 51,I'd be the oldest woman
care of everything to do with the house and out finances, and suddenly I had to take on all of that—buy a new house, deal with solicitors and so on. I made mistake but that’s how you evolve.” Cant moved from West London to Oxford and, despite having no A levels, embarked on a combined English literature and geography degree at Oxford Brookes University. She took a sailing course, almost by chance, because a friend said it was a good way to meet people. Cant is scared of water and had never been on a yacht before, but she was hooked. “I love the freedom of sailing so much that I didn’t want to go home. I asked the skipper if we could sail due south and when he told me that would mean we wouldn’t hit dry land, I said ‘fantastic’. He said, if you feel like that, you should think about a round-the-world yacht race that’s open to amateurs. So I applied for the BT Global Challenge.” The Global Challenge is a race between 12 identical yachts, each crewed by a professional and 17 amateurs, sailing 32, 000 miles around the world the “wrong” way against the prevailing winds and currents, and starting and ending in Southampton. There were more than 4, 000 applicants for 180 places but Cant was chosen for the 2000 challenge. She had plenty of time to get fit and find ￡25,000 to fund the trip, largely from savings and living frugally on her earnings as a PA in an Oxford college. “I trained hard because I knew that, at 51, I’d be the oldest woman
on board with a crew mainly made up of people in their thirties,and I wanted to be considered an equal.I've always played tennis and hockey but I hate the gym.However,I made appoint of going three times a week to work on my upper-body strength-necessary to winch up heavy sail-and I used to run up and down Shotover Hill,a steep escarpment outside Oxford.My son would run in front saying:"Come on Mum,you can do it'” Leaving the children in September 2000 was the hardest part of the ten-month voyage.Simon,then 19,was about to start university and Cant worried about not being around to offer emotional support;financial support came from their father."A lot of people,including my mother, thought I was being selfish.But I think going away was the best thing I could have done for the children.I felt they would benefit from traveling out to meet me in the ports where we stopped and I think-through my adventures-I've given them an attitude,an impetus,to go for whatever they want to achieve in life." Cant asked her sister to stand in as surrogate mother.She gave power of attorney to her daughter Nicola,then 23 and just starting her PhD.Looking back,Cant recognizes it may have been too much.Nicola agrees:"Looking after someone else's finances and a house 170 miles away was a nightmare.The consensus was that Mum was mad,and there was definitely times when I agreed,although I also thought she was
on board with a crew mainly made up of people in their thirties, and I wanted to be considered an equal. I’ve always played tennis and hockey but I hate the gym. However, I made appoint of going three times a week to work on my upper-body strength—necessary to winch up heavy sail—and I used to run up and down Shotover Hill, a steep escarpment outside Oxford. My son would run in front saying: “Come on Mum, you can do it”. Leaving the children in September 2000 was the hardest part of the ten-month voyage. Simon, then 19, was about to start university and Cant worried about not being around to offer emotional support; financial support came from their father. “ A lot of people, including my mother, thought I was being selfish. But I think going away was the best thing I could have done for the children. I felt they would benefit from traveling out to meet me in the ports where we stopped and I think—through my adventures—I’ve given them an attitude, an impetus, to go for whatever they want to achieve in life.” Cant asked her sister to stand in as surrogate mother. She gave power of attorney to her daughter Nicola, then 23 and just starting her PhD. Looking back, Cant recognizes it may have been too much. Nicola agrees: “Looking after someone else’s finances and a house 170 miles away was a nightmare. The consensus was that Mum was mad, and there was definitely times when I agreed, although I also thought she was
amazingand extremely courageous." Both Nicola and Simon hit a low point when their grandfather died. Simon remembers:"There were times when all I wanted was a hug from Mum.When you're off to University,you think you're braver and more adult than you are,so it caught me by surprise how much I missed her.I felt I'd lost my rock.” "But I never felt resentful.You could never be angry with someone for living their life properly.Ifyou can't do that stuff at her age,when can you do it?Now I work nine-to-five myself I realize what a brave thing it was to give up her job and spend her life savings with no clue as to what she was goingto do when she returned.' Cant admits that before the race she hadn't given much thought to the possibility her children could be left without a mother,"There were several times during the race when I really thought I was going to die.At Christmas we were going round Cape Horn and the weather was so bad that the boat was blown right over on its side.I wrote an e-mail to my children which was basically my farewell." The lowest point followed a crash off New Zealand that damaged the boat,"The crash was a big shock,"Cant says."Back on shore I thought,I can't do this anymore,I just couldn't face going back into the Southern Ocean.I phoned my sister and told her I wanted to give up.She shouted:Get back on the boat-ifyou can't do it for you,do it for us."It
amazing and extremely courageous.” Both Nicola and Simon hit a low point when their grandfather died. Simon remembers: “There were times when all I wanted was a hug from Mum. When you’re off to University, you think you’re braver and more adult than you are, so it caught me by surprise how much I missed her. I felt I’d lost my rock.” “But I never felt resentful. You could never be angry with someone for living their life properly. If you can’t do that stuff at her age, when can you do it? Now I work nine-to-five myself I realize what a brave thing it was to give up her job and spend her life savings with no clue as to what she was going to do when she returned.’ Cant admits that before the race she hadn’t given much thought to the possibility her children could be left without a mother, “There were several times during the race when I really thought I was going to die. At Christmas we were going round Cape Horn and the weather was so bad that the boat was blown right over on its side. I wrote an e-mail to my children which was basically my farewell.” The lowest point followed a crash off New Zealand that damaged the boat, “The crash was a big shock,” Cant says. “Back on shore I thought, I can’t do this anymore, I just couldn’t face going back into the Southern Ocean. I phoned my sister and told her I wanted to give up. She shouted: ‘Get back on the boat—if you can’t do it for you, do it for us.’ It
was what I needed to hear.If I'd given up then I'd have regretted it,and I would never have gone on to do the other expeditions. "I Wanted to Be Free to Do DifferentThings" To help get through the low points she pinned photos ofher children and a poem by her son by her bunk:she never read the poem as it made her cry,but it helped.At times she felt her age was a disadvantage,"They were more prepared to put younger girls up the mast or to the end of the spinnaker pole,although I had done it many times in training.However. there were total equality on the boat,which was very refreshing;if something dirty,heavy or difficult needed doing and you were there,you did it."Even though her boat finished last.Cant is overwhelmingly positive about the experience:the bad times taught her as much as the good,she says."I'm far,far more confident now than I ever was before. and it taught me to trust my gut instincts." Back on dry land,Cant was keen to push her boundaries even further. She was aware that it would be too easy to slip back into her comfort zone.So within days ofher return she flew to Vancouver Island for one of the toughest treks in the world,and had to be rescued when her legs gave way.A year later she raced the first Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Challenge,and her boat won. Then in 2004 she set herselfa very different challenge;dog-sledding
was what I needed to hear. If I’d given up then I’d have regretted it, and I would never have gone on to do the other expeditions.’ “I Wanted to Be Free to Do Different Things” To help get through the low points she pinned photos of her children and a poem by her son by her bunk: she never read the poem as it made her cry, but it helped. At times she felt her age was a disadvantage, “They were more prepared to put younger girls up the mast or to the end of the spinnaker pole, although I had done it many times in training. However, there were total equality on the boat, which was very refreshing; if something dirty, heavy or difficult needed doing and you were there, you did it.” Even though her boat finished last. Cant is overwhelmingly positive about the experience: the bad times taught her as much as the good, she says. “I’m far, far more confident now than I ever was before, and it taught me to trust my gut instincts.” Back on dry land, Cant was keen to push her boundaries even further. She was aware that it would be too easy to slip back into her comfort zone. So within days of her return she flew to Vancouver Island for one of the toughest treks in the world, and had to be rescued when her legs gave way. A year later she raced the first Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Challenge, and her boat won. Then in 2004 she set herself a very different challenge; dog-sledding
to the northernmost tip of Europe with two companions in their thirties Cant hates skiing but that didn't put her off."People think dog-sledding is easy,but it's not,"she insists."We would sled for 12 hours a day,and sometimes had to push the sled,which weighed twice my body weight, up mountains.At one point I nearly broke my leg when my sled went over.An accident like that in the middle of nowhere would have been catastrophic." Cant now draws on her experience of six big adventures to give motivational talks on overcoming obstacles and challenges in the workplace.She says,"While I was on the boat I decided that I never wanted to go back to working in an office again because I wanted to be free to do different things.Now I make the choices,and that is a lovely feeling.” "I would advise any woman who wants to do something badly enough to go for it,otherwise you can feel very resentful.You should never get to the end of your life thinking:'I wish I'd...'We all take risks all the time;sometimes you've got to take a bigger risk.Parting from your children is always tough,it was for me.But the good it did far outweighed the bad.” Rona Cant's book,A Challenge Too Far?(Book Guild,f20)is available from her website:www.ronacent.com
to the northernmost tip of Europe with two companions in their thirties. Cant hates skiing but that didn’t put her off. “People think dog-sledding is easy, but it’s not,” she insists. “We would sled for 12 hours a day, and sometimes had to push the sled, which weighed twice my body weight, up mountains. At one point I nearly broke my leg when my sled went over. An accident like that in the middle of nowhere would have been catastrophic.” Cant now draws on her experience of six big adventures to give motivational talks on overcoming obstacles and challenges in the workplace. She says, “While I was on the boat I decided that I never wanted to go back to working in an office again because I wanted to be free to do different things. Now I make the choices, and that is a lovely feeling.” “I would advise any woman who wants to do something badly enough to go for it, otherwise you can feel very resentful. You should never get to the end of your life thinking: ‘I wish I’d…’ We all take risks all the time; sometimes you’ve got to take a bigger risk. Parting from your children is always tough, it was for me. But the good it did far outweighed the bad.” Rona Cant’s book, A Challenge Too Far? (Book Guild, ￡20) is available from her website: www.ronacent.com
Reading comprehension; 1.Rona Cant decided to be adventurer,becauseshe A.was unhappy and preferred to take part in the expedition to the Norwegian Arctic B.got tired of family's lives and wanted to travel to the Norwegian Arctic C.felt in her bones that she could challenge the unimaginable expedition to the Norwegian Arctic D.was getting old and felt free from the unimaginable expedition to the Norwegian Arctic 2.When Rona Cant left her husband, A.she felt shrunk from dealing with financial problems B.she was released to walk away withtwo children C.she inherited a large sum of money from her parents D.she had finished all her courses from high school 3.Rona Cant tried,through her expedition to the Norwegian Arctic, to A.show her children her strength B.set an example to fulfill one's ambition in life C.conceal her misery D.avoid offeringemotional supportto Simon 4.Cant's boat won
Reading comprehension; 1. Rona Cant decided to be adventurer, because she . A. was unhappy and preferred to take part in the expedition to the Norwegian Arctic B. got tired of family’s lives and wanted to travel to the Norwegian Arctic C. felt in her bones that she could challenge the unimaginable expedition to the Norwegian Arctic D. was getting old and felt free from the unimaginable expedition to the Norwegian Arctic 2. When Rona Cant left her husband, . A. she felt shrunk from dealing with financial problems B. she was released to walk away with two children C. she inherited a large sum of money from her parents D. she had finished all her courses from high school 3. Rona Cant tried, through her expedition to the Norwegian Arctic, to . A. show her children her strength B. set an example to fulfill one’s ambition in life C. conceal her misery D. avoid offering emotional support to Simon 4. Cant’s boat won
A.in the BT Global Challenge in 2000 B.in the BT Global Challenge in 2001 C.in the first Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Challenge in 2000 D.in the first Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Challenge in 2001 5.Rona Cant_ A.would advise any woman who wants to do something badly enough to go for it B.never makethe choices to challenge the Norwegian Arctic C.never wanted to be free to do different things D.wanted to go back to working in an office again
A. in the BT Global Challenge in 2000 B. in the BT Global Challenge in 2001 C. in the first Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Challenge in 2000 D. in the first Round Britain and Ireland Yacht Challenge in 2001 5. Rona Cant . A. would advise any woman who wants to do something badly enough to go for it B. never make the choices to challenge the Norwegian Arctic C. never wanted to be free to do different things D. wanted to go back to working in an office again