Alone is the gripping memoir of French adventurer Gérard d’Aboville, who, at the age of 45, became the first person to row solo across the Pacific Ocean from west to east. Departing from Choshi, Japan, on July 11, 1991, he embarked on a 134-day journey covering approximately 6,200 miles, culminating in his arrival at Ilwaco, Washington. Los Angeles Times +3 Amazon +3 Google Books +3 His vessel, the Sector, was a 26-foot-long rowboat equipped with a watertight cabin measuring just 31 inches in height, containing a bunk, a one-burner stove, and communication equipment powered by solar panels. Despite the boat's self-righting design, d’Aboville faced numerous challenges, including: Google Books +2 Google Books +2 Amazon +2 Capsizing over 30 times due to 40-foot waves and cyclones with winds reaching 100 mph. Being trapped upside down inside his cabin for nearly two hours, risking suffocation. Battling currents that often pushed him backward, making progress arduous. Enduring physical ailments such as boils, broken ribs, and significant weight loss. Google Books +2 Google Books +2 Amazon +2 Google Books +1 Google Books +1 Throughout the ordeal, d’Aboville maintained a regimen of rowing 10 to 12 hours daily, demonstrating remarkable mental and physical resilience.