My Epic Journey Becoming the Fastest Person to Paddle around Australia | Bonnie Hancock | TED

翻译人员: Ivy Loh 校对人员: Yanyan Hong

Let me take you back to a day in my life, July 2021.

让我带你回到我生命中的某一天， 2021 年 7 月。

I was sitting with my laptop on my lap, slightly sweating,

我正把笔记本电脑放在腿上，微微出汗，

awaiting a call that could change my life.

等待着一个可能改变我生活的电话。

You see, a year ago I read a book

你看，一年前我读过一本书，

about a woman who paddled around Australia,

讲述的是一位女性 在澳大利亚划船环游的故事，

beating the men before her to become the fastest ever to do so.

她击败了之前的男人， 成为有史以来最快的划船者。

I'm sure most people would read that book and think, wow,

我相信大多数人读了那本书会觉得，哇，

and forget about the idea,

然后把这个想法抛在脑后，

but I cannot get it out of my mind.

但我却无法忘记。

I’m a surf lifesaver and an ex-professional Ironwoman,

我是一名冲浪救生员， 也是一名前职业铁人三项运动员，

and I want to beat that record.

我想打破这个纪录。

I want to become the fastest person to paddle around Australia.

我想成为最快绕澳大利亚划船的人。

But to do so,

但是要做到这一点，

I'll need to paddle 80 to 100 kilometers a day

我需要每天划 80 到 100 公里，

and cover every meter of coastline in less than ten and a half months.

在不到十个半月的时间内 覆盖每一米的海岸线。

A ski is basically a kayak,

滑艇基本上是一艘皮划艇，

but built to withstand wind and swells and everything thrown up by the ocean.

但它是为了承受风浪和 海洋中的各种挑战而设计的。

It's six meters long,

它有六米长，

just 45 centimeters across at its widest point,

最宽的地方只有 45 厘米，

and made of carbon fiber,

由碳纤维制成，

it weighs eight kilograms.

重量为八公斤。

Oh, I'll also need a support catamaran

哦，我还需要一艘支援双体船，

and a jet ski

一艘水上摩托，

and a skipper and crew crazy enough to come with me for the journey.

以及一个疯狂到愿意陪我一起 踏上这段旅程的船长和船员。

It's going to cost a really significant amount of money too.

这也将花费一大笔钱。

And my husband and I have sold our cars,

我和我丈夫已经卖掉了我们的汽车，

but our sacrifice is just a drop in the ocean of funds needed.

但我们的牺牲只是所需资金的沧海一粟。

This call today is my opportunity to land a sponsorship deal

今天的这通电话是我获得赞助的机会，

which will enable me to start the paddle.

这将使我能够开始划船。

And 15 minutes after the start of that call,

在通话开始的 15 分钟后，

I received the life-changing "yes" I've been seeking.

我收到了我一直在寻找的 改变人生的 “是”。

Which gives me six months to plan the journey.

这给了我六个月的时间来规划旅程。

To figure out what direction I'm going to paddle in -- clockwise --

让我决定划船的方向——顺时针——

how to stay safe, and how to film the journey.

如何保持安全，以及如何拍摄旅程。

But despite the challenges that lay ahead,

尽管前方有很多挑战，

it finally feels real.

但这终于变得真实了。

In December,

在十二月，

I will set out to cover every meter of rugged,

我将出发覆盖澳大利亚每一米崎岖、

unforgiving coastline of Australia.

严酷的海岸线。

Flash forward, February 2022.

时间快进到 2022 年 2 月。

I am 500 kilometers out to sea

我在距海岸 500 公里的海上，

and facing the crossing of the Great Australian Bight,

正对着大澳大利亚湾的过境点，

that untamable stretch of water at the bottom of Australia.

这是澳大利亚南部那片难以驯服的水域。

If successful, I will be the first person to cross directly across the Bight,

如果成功，我将成为第一个 直接穿越大澳大利亚湾的人，

as opposed to those prior to me who would hug the coastline.

而不是像之前的人那样沿着海岸线航行。

But I figure that to break a world record,

但我认为，要打破世界纪录，

I need to be prepared to go where no one has before.

我需要做好前所未有的准备。

I had a little scare earlier today, though.

今天早些时候我有点害怕。

I fell out of my ski and I couldn't get back in.

我从滑艇上掉了下来， 而且没法重新爬上去。

I was 100 kilometers into paddling.

当时我已经划了 100 公里。

For the fifth time, I tried to haul myself up into my ski.

第五次尝试爬回滑艇时，

As I did so, I slid into the icy water,

我滑进了冰冷的水中，

the shock of it sending a chill up my spine

那种震惊像触电一样沿着脊柱传遍全身。

like I touched an electric fence.

Out here it’s freezing,

这里非常寒冷，

and hypothermia is a real risk.

体温过低是个真正的风险。

I've lost eight kilograms in the last two weeks from seasickness.

过去两周由于晕船我已经瘦了八公斤。

My support boat's having trouble slowing down.

我的支援船在减速时遇到了麻烦。

They're sailing away from me in the 25-knot wind gusts.

他们正在 25 节的阵风中驶离我。

They're not turning around.

他们没有掉头。

One more time,

我再一次尝试爬上滑艇， 但再次失败，

I try to haul myself up into my ski and fail again,

in waters known for killer whales and great white sharks.

而这片水域以虎鲸和大白鲨闻名。

I start to sink into a sense of self-pity and feel terribly scared.

我开始陷入自怜之中，感到非常害怕。

But as I do so, I look up at the night sky,

但就在这时，我抬头看向夜空，

and I feel like a dot in the grand scheme of creation.

感觉自己在宏大的创造中只是一个小点。

I also have a realization.

我也有了一个领悟。

Out here, staying still is the worst thing I can do.

在这里，停滞不前 是我能做的最糟糕的事情。

If I can't get into my ski, I need to keep moving forward.

如果我无法爬上滑艇， 我就需要继续前进。

I need to swim.

我需要游泳。

So slowly but surely,

于是，缓慢而坚定地，

I move my arms as my legs start to follow,

我开始移动我的手臂， 双腿也跟着动了起来，

and I inch my way towards the support boat.

我一点一点地向支援船靠近。

They're finally coming back to me now.

他们终于回来找我了。

I forgot to mention, it's nighttime.

忘了说，当时是晚上。

They’re 50 meters away,

他们离我只有 50 米，

and I can hear them calling out, seeing if I'm OK.

我能听见他们在喊，问我是否还好。

By the time I'm pulled aboard,

当我被拉上船时，

I've been submerged in the Bight for ten minutes.

我已经被淹没在海湾里十分钟了。

I'm so cold, I can't speak.

我冷得说不出话来。

The bulging discs in my back are on fire,

我背部的椎间盘膨出疼痛难忍，

and it feels like my back is breaking in two.

感觉像要断成两截。

My lips are cracked and bleeding from dehydration.

我的嘴唇因为脱水而干裂出血。

But the worst thing is, I need to get back in these waters

但最糟糕的是， 明天我得重新回到这些水域，

and paddle for 16 hours again tomorrow

再划船 16 个小时，

as I'm just halfway across the Bight.

因为我才刚过了大澳大利亚湾的一半。

(Video) I've not really been able to hold any food down

（视频）由于晕船，

in the last two days, due to seasickness,

过去两天我几乎不能吃任何东西，

and the only bit of protein I've got in my stomach

今天早上我唯一吃的蛋白质

is about five almonds from this morning

就是大约五颗杏仁，

so I'm just running off soft-textured carbohydrate.

所以我只能依靠软质碳水化合物支撑。

Had some rice and Nutella and banana just then,

刚才吃了一些米饭、巧克力酱和香蕉，

so I'm really hoping it stays down.

希望能消化掉。

I pretty much have nothing in my stomach at the moment.

我现在肚子里几乎什么都没有。

Yeah, it's really, really tough.

是的，这真的非常艰难。

So I'm trying to focus mentally

所以我在努力集中精神，

when your focus starts to go with with no fuel in the tank.

尤其是在油箱空了的时候。

I made it across the Bight.

我成功穿越了大澳大利亚湾。

And on the April 23, 2022,

2022 年 4 月 23 日，

it’s my birthday,

这是我的生日，

I’m 32 years old,

我 32 岁了，

and I'm two months ahead of the world record.

我比世界纪录提前了两个月。

I saw 25 turtles on my paddle yesterday.

昨天我在划船时看到了 25 只海龟。

But such experiences have become the norm.

但是这样的经历已成为常态。

I've been surrounded by dolphins in the middle of the ocean,

我曾在大海中央被海豚包围，

had seals play beside me,

海豹在我旁边嬉戏，

seen flying fish scoot 50 meters across the water in front of me.

看见飞鱼在我面前滑行了 50 米。

I’ve seen Indigenous carvings over tens of thousands of years old.

我见过有数万年历史的土著雕刻。

I've also had sharks show a little too much interest in my ski

也有鲨鱼对我的滑艇表现出过浓的兴趣，

for my liking.

让我有点不安。

At the moment, I've got a fishing boat supporting me,

目前，有一艘渔船在支撑着我，

and since the start of the trip I've had a mix of fishing boat,

自从旅程开始以来，有时是渔船，

catamaran and jet ski.

有时是双体船和水上摩托。

I've also got a crew of amazing young men who champion me every day.

我还有一群很棒的年轻人 每天都在鼓励我。

They're excellent listeners, they're feminists,

他们是优秀的听众， 他们是女权主义者，

but I'm missing having a female around when I have my period.

但当我来月经时， 我还是很想念有女性在身边。

I'm not quite ready to trouble the guys about menstrual cramps just yet.

我还没有准备好 向这些男生提起经痛的事。

I'm also addicted to lolly snakes,

我还沉迷于棒棒蛇，

which are known as gummy worms in other parts of the world,

在世界其他地方被称为软糖虫，

I found out recently.

我最近才知道。

It's not my fault I'm addicted to them though.

但是我沉迷于它们不是我的错。

The skipper of my crew, who looks like Crocodile Dundee in his Akubra hat,

我的船长戴着阿库布拉帽， 看起来像鳄鱼邓迪，

fed them to me on day one and now I'm obsessed,

他在第一天就把这些糖果给我吃， 现在我很着迷，

I'm eating around a packet a day.

我每天大约吃一包。

I do eat other things though.

当然，我也吃其他东西。

Cut up wraps, fresh apple, Jatz crackers, they're among my favorites.

切好的卷饼、新鲜的苹果、 Jatz 饼干，它们是我的最爱。

As a dietician, which is my day job,

作为一名营养师，这是我的日常工作，

I had the perfect plan for nutrition,

我制定了完美的营养计划，

and that all went out the window on day one when the craving started.

但当我在第一天开始渴望这些糖果时， 这一切都作废了。

I'm in Broome in Western Australia.

我在西澳大利亚的布鲁姆。

This is where they say the crocodiles start

他们说这里是鳄鱼开始出现的地方，

and continue right across the top of the country.

一直延伸到全国的最顶端。

May 2022.

2022 年 5 月。

Yesterday, my crew saw a crocodile ten meters from my ski,

昨天，我的船员在离我的滑艇 十米远的地方看到一条鳄鱼，

watching, waiting.

它正在观看，等待。

They were quick to call me into the boat and pull me aboard.

他们迅速把我叫回船上， 并把我拉了上去。

But this record means I need to paddle every meter of coastline.

但这项记录意味着 我需要划遍每一米的海岸线。

That means today, I had to get back in the water

这意味着今天，我必须重新回到

where they saw that crocodile yesterday.

昨天他们看到鳄鱼的水域。

It doesn't help that the water is brown

水呈棕色，这并没有帮助，

and the hundreds of logs feel like crocodile heads waiting to pounce.

数百根的的木头 感觉像是等待扑向我的鳄鱼头。

Crocodiles are predators.

鳄鱼是掠食者。

They're patient, they'll stalk as long as needed.

它们很有耐心，会一直潜伏着等待时机。

There's also hundreds of sea snakes out here

这里还有数百条海蛇。

that nobody told me about.

没有人告诉过我。

Yellow with black markings.

它们黄色带黑色斑纹。

They're thick as pythons, and they coil up at me as I pass.

像蟒蛇一样粗， 当我经过时，它们会盘起来。

At night, I try not to hit them with my paddle.

晚上，我尽量不让我的桨打到它们。

So in waters known for crocodiles and sea snakes,

所以在这片以鳄鱼和海蛇闻名的水域，

as I climb down into my ski,

当我爬进滑艇时，

I tell my crew to talk to me.

我会叫我的船员和我说话。

Childhood stories, jokes, riddles.

讲童年的故事、笑话、谜语。

Just keep talking to distract me from what lies beneath.

就不停地说， 分散我对水下情况的注意力。

When I was an Ironwoman,

当我还是铁人三项选手时，

I thought that vulnerability was weakness.

我认为脆弱是软弱的表现。

Be stoic, I thought.

我以为要坚忍不拔。

Game face always at the ready.

比赛脸随时准备就绪。

But out here, in these waters, no game face will help.

但在这里，在这些水域中， 任何比赛脸都无济于事。

Telling my crew I'm scared enables me to get through the day,

告诉我的船员我很害怕， 这能让我度过一天，

and we talk and joke and laugh our way

然后我们通过谈话、笑话和笑声

through the most dangerous waters in the world.

一起度过了世界上最危险的水域。

On August 28, 2022,

2022 年 8 月 28 日，

I set foot on the shores of the Gold Coast for the first time in eight months

我在八个月内第一次 踏上了黄金海岸的土地，

as a world record holder.

作为世界纪录保持者。

I paddled around Australia in 254 days,

我用了 254 天环绕澳大利亚划行，

beating the previous record by over two and a half months.

比之前的纪录提前了两个半月。

But while crossing the tape was very exciting,

但尽管穿过终点带非常激动，

it wasn't the most valuable thing I took from this record.

这并不是我从这项纪录中 获得的最有价值的东西。

You see, remember that time I told you about

你看，还记得我告诉你

in the middle of the Bight when I looked up at the night sky?

在大澳大利亚湾中间 抬头看夜空的那段时间吗？

It was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

那是我见过的最美的景象。

And in that moment, I had another realization.

在那一刻，我有了另一个领悟。

Instead of feeling scared, I felt lucky.

我不再感到害怕，而是感到幸运。

Instead of that sense of self-pity, I felt grateful.

我不再有自怜的感觉，而是感到感恩。

Grateful and lucky to experience a perspective

感恩和幸运能够体验到

seen by so few humans ever before.

很少有人能见到的视角。

And that gratitude carried me 12,700 kilometers

这种感激之情 伴随着我走过了 12,700 公里，

around the country.

环绕整个国家。

Mother Nature taught me resilience.

大自然教会了我坚韧。

To keep pushing as a storm is only ever fleeting.

不断前行，因为风暴总是短暂的。

She taught me to step back and look around,

她教会我退一步，环顾四周，

as beauty can be found in the darkest of places.

因为在最黑暗的地方也能发现美丽。

And though the sand and salt has been washed from my body

尽管沙子和盐已经 从我的身体上被冲洗掉了，

and someone someday will break my world record, I know they will,

尽管有一天会有人打破 我的世界纪录，我知道他们会，

the memories I have from this paddle will stay with me forever.

但这次划行的记忆将永远伴随着我。

And I know that all I ever need to do

我知道我需要做的

is take a step back and look around

就是退一步，环顾四周，

and remember, how lucky am I?

并记住，我是多么幸运？

How lucky are we to be part of this amazing, crazy,

我们是多么幸运能成为这个奇妙、疯狂、

unpredictable journey of life?

不可预测的人生旅程的一部分？

Even if we are just a drop in the ocean.

即使我们只是大海中的一滴水。

Thank you.

谢谢。

(Applause)

（掌声）