Adventure keynote speaker, advocate, and extreme endurance athlete
Corporate leaders, legal professionals, leadership teams, conferences, and audiences seeking inspiration through real-world resilience and courage.
Vasti Geldenhuys is a South African advocate, adventurer, and motivational speaker whose life bridges two demanding worlds: the courtroom and the open ocean. While trained in law and comfortable in high-pressure legal environments, Vasti’s life took an extraordinary turn inspired by the pioneering expeditions of her husband, explorer Riaan Manser. Watching from the sidelines ignited her own desire to step into the unknown and pursue something exceptional.
That opportunity arrived unexpectedly with an expedition humorously titled Take Me to New York. Departing from Morocco, Vasti and her husband rowed a 6.9-meter boat across the Atlantic Ocean, enduring six months at sea. On 7 May 2014, they landed in Miami, becoming the first people in history to row from mainland Africa to North America. In doing so, Vasti became the only woman from the African continent to have rowed across any ocean.
Their journey continued up the East Coast of the United States, culminating in a symbolic arrival in New York City on 20 June 2014, rowing up the Hudson River past the iconic Statue of Liberty.
After returning to South Africa, Vasti completed her pupillage at the Cape Bar and was admitted as an advocate in 2015. Yet her appetite for exploration remained strong. In 2016, she redefined the concept of a honeymoon by rowing the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii on the same boat.
Vasti Geldenhuys will make most people feel a bit uncomfortable in a court room, but for Vasti, it is a familiar territory.
In a world of exploration, dominated by men, Vasti always watched and supported from the sideline as her now husband, pioneering explorer, Riaan Manser, completed 3 World first’s. This inspired Vasti to do something extraordinary with her own life.
After a seemingly innocent request for a holiday to New York, Vasti never imagined that she would exchange her legal surroundings to something very, very unfamiliar. The mighty Atlantic Ocean. On a journey humorously but aptly called “Take Me to New York”, Vasti and her husband embarked from Morocco, enduring a 6 month journey at sea on a 6.9 meter rowing boat.
On landing in Miami, USA on 7 May 2014 the pair became the first people ever in history to have rowed from mainland Africa to North America. Vasti also became the only woman from the African Continent to have ever rowed across any Ocean.
They continued their journey by tackling the East Coast of the USA to finally reach New York City on 20 June 2014. Rowing up the Hudson River and passing by the iconic
Statue of Liberty.
In 2015 Vasti Geldenhuys completed her pupillage at the Cape Bar and was admitted as an Advocate. The thrill of exploration remained. In 2016, after tying the knot, the now husband and wife pair decided to set new a standard for the term “Honeymoon”.
Vasti Geldenhuys again tackled the Ocean, this time the mighty Pacific, on the exact same row boat. They rowed from California to Hawaii in a record breaking time of 39 days. They earned themselves another Guiness World record for the fastest mid-Pacific row. This record was previously held by a 4-man rowing team.
Hit by a 6 meter wave and capsized, 2000 km from shore; Riaan getting separated from the boat and Vasti unable to stop the boat drifting further and further away; 12 hour rowing days while managing a new marriage in life threatening situations are just a few examples of life at sea.
Storms and ship traffic provided for harrowing escapes from natural and human threats. But there were the quiet moments when the couple could reflect, savour the sunsets on the ocean and be intrigued by the amazing wildlife.
Vasti Geldenhuys will intrigue the audience with a unique woman’s perspective of the world of adventure; a world usually reserved for rugged and very brave men. Her talk will not only inspire the audience to new possibilities but show ordinary men and women that one is capable of much more than one thinks.
Being inspired lasts longer than being motivated, real stories of having gone out and actually achieving what you set out to do.
As of July 2015, Vasti Geldenhuys can deservedly add the title of Advocate Geldenhuys to her growing status.
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