Solo Atlantic crossing raises funds for Door of Hope
Gerhard Moolman’s oceanic journey has become a lifeline for needy infants.

Gerhard Moolman (53) embarked on an extraordinary challenge by solo-crossing the Atlantic Ocean to raise R200 000 for the Door of Hope NPO.
He is the CEO of Alternative Lighting & Technical Solutions Africa, an outdoor, indoor and explosion-proof LED lighting solutions provider and SA’s largest lighting exchange company. He is also an adventurer deeply committed to philanthropy.
His rowing journey
On December 1 last year, Moolman set sail from Cape Verde, an island country and archipelagic state of West Africa in the central Atlantic Ocean, to Cayenne, the capital of French Guiana on the northeastern edge of South America.

He arrived in Cayenne on the morning of January 7. The 4 020km journey took 37 days and four hours of rowing at about 7kmp/h.
This endeavour follows his prior Guinness World Record-setting adventure in 2002, when he paddled 6 152km from Hout Bay, SA, to Lamu in Kenya.
“The Guinness World Record stood for 20 years. I’ve done various small expeditions but decided to do a world-class expedition, and crossing the Atlantic Ocean was a great opportunity,” shared Moolman.
He used a unique rowing machine mechanism to power the surf ski, a type of long kayak made for speed on open water, especially the ocean. It is designed for performance but can be used on all waters and for recreational paddling.
“This remarkable vessel named the Osiyeza – which means ‘the great crossing’ – while small, has evolved to be more advanced than most yachts. My mission was to set a record for the fastest human-powered Atlantic crossing, travelling from Cape Verde to French Guiana in South America,” said the adventurer.
He extensively modified the Osiyeza to transform her into a rowing vessel using a foldable propeller driven by an intricate and sophisticated drivetrain.

“This transformation was nothing short of extraordinary, thanks to months of dedicated hard work by an exceptional team,” added Moolman.
“The estimated time for the journey was initially 45 days, so arriving in Cayenne on day 37 was a massive success for me. My personal goal for this expedition was an investment in my life – personal development and to set a record for the fastest crossing from Cape Vrede to French Guiana.”
Moolman faced various challenges on his journey, such as a leak in his boat, which caused it to nearly sink, but he managed to fix it. His rowing mechanism broke, taking him longer and more out of him, but all went well in the end.
“My biggest challenge was that I had to do particulus navigation, which I didn’t do too well, and found myself in a precarious position. I had to paddle day and night at one stage, which was very difficult.”
Moolman had to paddle parallel to the wind and often experienced the ocean water hitting him from the side.
”That was quite difficult, but I managed to rectify it and found myself going in the direction I was supposed to,” he added.
The other challenge was pushing the 500kg vessel to exceed 10km/h.
“It demanded more than immense physical effort. It required precise engineering, unwavering dedication, and, at times, a bit of nature’s grace,” he said.
While Moolman left later than planned – owing to the scale of this project – he embraced the wisdom of careful preparation over hastiness. The preparation for the journey was one of the most crucial parts.
“I gymed for a year to get my legs strong. I also built the mechanism into the boat, which took a long time and obviously, food was important. I didn’t eat half of my food but had to cater for if anything went wrong,” expressed Moolman.
Much preparation, which included the boat and himself, went into this journey.
“Every additional moment invested ensured a safer, stronger journey for me,” he said.
Helping save lives
Although Moolman’s solo crossing was a personal triumph, it served a greater purpose – to raise funds for the Door of Hope Children’s Mission.

“It’s not only about me but about Door of Hope and its vital work to provide shelter, nourishment and education to abandoned babies and children.”
His dedication to this cause resonated throughout his journey, inspiring many to contribute to his fundraising efforts.
His commitment was evident even through the challenges at sea, knowing that each time he rowed his paddle, it was a step toward making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children. Moolman hoped his adventure would motivate the people of SA to get involved and support initiatives like Door of Hope.
“The goal set was ‘we’ rather than ‘I’,” he said, highlighting community involvement’s vital role in achieving meaningful change.
Moolman documented his experiences throughout his journey, sharing updates on social media to engage supporters and to keep the momentum for his fundraising efforts.
Door of Hope donor engagement manager Kathy Groome said, “That Gerhard Moolman chose the Door of Hope as the organisation to raise funds for means the world. We are grateful his journey has brought awareness about abandoned babies and children. The funds raised will make a big difference for them.”
Despite the obstacles, Moolman completed his crossing. Moolman was thankful for the donations received, and the awareness raised.
“I’m grateful for the individuals who made this possible – first, my Maker for giving me the power to do it, my brother, Chris Moolman, my beautiful girlfriend, Bronwyn, and all my friends.
“I am also thankful to the team that helped me with my boat, including Charles, Richard Kohler, Ralph Teilings and many more, and to my sponsors, Above and Beyond Logistics, who shipped the Osiyeza, Casio South Africa for an amazing smartwatch, Lourens de Beer from Micro-AI-Enterprises, who built the website and published daily updates on my social channels, and Nils Slaten for all his PR work.
“Another heartfelt thank you goes to William Fraser, our head engineer, and Ralph Dill from Cormorant Yachts. Of course, without the significant contributions of many others who shared this dream, this endeavour couldn’t have been accomplished.
“It was 21 years since my first major sea expedition, and there’s a unique allure to great sea adventures that only those who embark on them can truly comprehend,” expressed Moolman.
The funds raised will provide essential resources for needy children, ensuring they receive the care and education they deserve.
As he reflects on his adventure, Moolman hopes to inspire others to take action in their communities, reminding everyone that even the tiniest efforts can lead to significant change.