| Paddler | Seema Khehar |
| Boat | Coastal Rowing Quad (Coxed) |
| Course | Long Course |
| Year | 2026 |
| Finish Time | 4:05:00 |
My name’s Seema Khehar and I rowed in a coxed quad. Here’s my piece on the Freedom Paddle.
Rowing with CCRC (Cape Coastal Rowing Club), there were more paddlers than seats available — so when a seat came up, I was delighted to be placed. Although it was a seat in Tata, which is hands down the heaviest boat that competed in the race: a First Generation sea quad, built by Euro Diffusions in 2005 with a hefty mass of 150 kg.
Into the Swells
I coxed us out and, as a first timer, I was nervous as to where we were heading — so I followed the crowd until everyone melted away in the big swells. We had a single sculler alongside us and I had to steer out to avoid clashing with him, but did not have the heart in those conditions to ask him to move out.
We were battered by the waves but enjoyed the stability, albeit with some frustration at how the streamlined surf skis and swifts left us for dust. After our cox swop, I rowed the rest of the course and at one point, when we were swallowed up by massive breakers, I was totally disoriented and thought we were going the wrong way — only for the cox to confirm we were heading back, having circled the island.
Penguins, Tankers and the Push for Home
At that point we saw a raft of penguins, and that energised me — they seemed to urge us on. We then had to detour wide to avoid a tanker and we were getting tired, but we were on the last stretch so the adrenaline kicked in and we pushed for home.
No records, no wins — but a deep satisfaction in taking the heaviest craft out and finishing in a respectable 4:05:00 hours, even beating a swift quad. We were all winners by completing the course safely and enjoyed it thoroughly.
I reckon I may be the first Kenyan to round the course — so Hakuna Matata. Until next time.
— Seema Khehar | 2026 Prescient Freedom Paddle | Coastal Rowing Quad | Long Course
