Having conquered the Southern Atlantic, Richard’s next mission takes him across the Indian Ocean — solo and unsupported — departing May 2027 aboard his 8-metre kayak Osi. Another world first. Another impossible made possible.
A solo journey across the Indian Ocean. Months alone with weather, current and open water.
The build-up begins now.
00Days
00Hours
00Minutes
00Seconds
Route Intel
North West Australia → East Africa. Remote ocean with few bailout options.
Navigation Systems
Satellite communications, weather routing and live expedition tracking.
Osiyeza
Custom 8m expedition kayak designed for endurance and survival.
The Defining Journey
ATLANTIC CROSSING
Cape Town
South Africa — Departure
6,403 km · 63 days
Salvador
Brazil — Arrival 19 Feb 2023
6,403
Kilometres
Solo across the South Atlantic
63
Days
No support. No escort.
R603k+
Raised
For Operation Smile SA
110+
Smiles
Children given surgery
The Kayak Osiyeza
Osiyeza was built to Richard’s concept and drawn by yacht designer Phil Southwell with a focus specifically on open-ocean stability. Dylan Soares De Melo at Further Composites built Osiyeza out of 10mm PVC core and carbon fibre. Osiyeza weighs in at 380kg.
Solo and Unsupported
No escort vessel. No resupply at sea. No island stops. Richard paddled the 6,403 kilometres alone. A problem at sea was Richard’s problem to solve, and he had a few.
Ten Years to the Start Line
Richard first conceived the crossing over a decade before departing Cape Town. Planning began in earnest three years out and was stopped by COVID-19 border closures. He restarted and left on 18 December 2022.
What the Crossing Required
Richard handled sleep scheduling, calorie intake, equipment repairs and navigation for 63 consecutive days. When equipment failed, he fixed it or went without. He stayed in daily contact with a team of three friends for routing advice, social media support and technical help.
Operation Smile
Richard paddled in support of Operation Smile South Africa, which funds cleft lip and palate surgeries for children. The crossing raised enough to cover surgery costs for more than 110 children.
The Record
Richard arrived in Salvador, Brazil on 19 February 2023. It was the first solo, unsupported kayak crossing of the Southern Atlantic Ocean.
Atlantic Crossing
PROMO FILMS
Track Record
EXPEDITIONS
2013
SA Coastline Solo
National First
First person to kayak the entire South African coastline solo — a continuous journey tracing the full perimeter of the country’s rugged Atlantic and Indian Ocean coasts.
3,300 km
in 70 days
2019
Breede River SUP
National First
First stand-up paddler to navigate the Breede River solo from source to sea — through farms, wetlands, and estuary in the Western Cape.
330 km
in 5 days
2020
Breede Non-Stop
National First
The only person to kayak the Breede River source-to-sea without stopping — a gruelling continuous paddle through the night with no rest periods.
310 km
in 38 hours
2023
Southern Atlantic Crossing — Ocean X
World First
The mission that defined a career and entered the history books. 63 days alone on the Southern Atlantic, paddling from Cape Town, South Africa to Salvador, Brazil. Solo. Unsupported. First in history.
6,403 km
Total distance
63 days
At sea
19 Feb ’23
Completion
Operation Smile
PADDLING FOR SMILES
Raised: R603,086Target: R500,000 Exceeded
R603,086Total raised
110+Surgeries funded
R5,500Per surgery
34Countries served
Richard didn’t paddle the Southern Atlantic just for the record. Every stroke was driven by a commitment to Operation Smile South Africa — an organisation that has spent 35 years giving children with cleft lip and palate conditions a new smile, and a new life.
At just R5,500 per surgery, the funds raised during the Ocean X expedition directly funded over 110 life-changing operations for children across Africa and beyond.
The campaign exceeded its original target of R500,000 — a testament to the generosity of the thousands who followed Richard’s journey and chose to be part of something bigger.
“We are in complete awe of what he has achieved… deeply grateful that he has used his epic adventure to transform the lives of dozens of children.”
— Sarah Scarth, Executive Director, Operation Smile South Africa
Day-by-day accounts from the Atlantic crossing, the South African coastline circumnavigation, the Breede River expeditions and more. Over 110 posts from the water.
South African adventurer, endurance athlete, ocean paddler and motivational speaker, Richard Kohler has spent a lifetime chasing horizons and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
Richard’s story began at the age of six when a new neighbour and his son introduced him to the world of keelboat sailing. He sailed dinghies for a short time, but his imagination was already fixed on something much bigger: the open ocean. The sea quickly became more than a hobby. It became a lifelong calling.
After high school, Richard completed his national service as a sailing instructor, laying the foundations for what would become a remarkable maritime career. Over the next two decades he sailed around the world, taking part in ocean crossings, racing campaigns and charter work, accumulating more than 200,000 nautical miles at sea. His experience and ability eventually earned him a place on South Africa’s Shosholoza America’s Cup campaign, where he competed alongside some of the world’s top sailors.
While sailing dominated much of his early career, Richard’s connection to paddling began during his school years through waveski paddling. His passion for kayaking intensified after competing in his first 244 km PE2EL surfski race in 1995, an experience that sparked a fascination with endurance paddling and long-distance adventure.
By 2000, Richard had committed himself seriously to kayaking and developed into a highly accomplished endurance paddler. Over the years he earned provincial colours on multiple occasions and represented South Africa in his age category at the World Masters Marathon Kayak Championships.
In 2014, Richard set himself the challenge of becoming the first person to kayak solo around the rugged South African coastline — 3,300 km in 70 days.
In 2023, Richard achieved what many considered impossible when he became the first person in history to kayak solo and unsupported across the Southern Atlantic Ocean, paddling 6,403 km from Cape Town to Salvador, Brazil in just 63 days.
A life defined by firsts, thousands of miles at sea, and an unrelenting belief that impossible is merely a starting point.
1995
First PE2EL Surfski Race
244 km · The spark that ignited everything
Richard’s first major paddling race sparked a lifelong obsession with endurance kayaking and long-distance ocean adventure.
2012
SA Coastline Solo Kayak
3,300 km · 70 days · National First
First person to kayak the entire South African coastline solo. Survived a shark attack, broke his ski and still finished.
2019
Breede River SUP
330 km · 5 days · National First
First SUP paddler to complete the Breede River solo from source to sea.
2020
Breede Non-Stop
310 km · 38 hours · National First
Only person to kayak the Breede River source-to-sea without stopping — no sleep for 47 hours.
2023
Southern Atlantic Crossing
6,403 km · 63 days · World First
First solo unsupported kayak crossing of the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Cape Town to Salvador, Brazil.
2027
Indian Ocean Crossing
Coming May 2027 · World First
The next world first. Solo and unsupported across the Indian Ocean aboard Osi.
Click any milestone to expand.
Cape Town Kayak Safari
WHEN I’M NOT CROSSING OCEANS
While world records and long-distance expeditions may grab the headlines, Richard’s connection to the ocean is part of everyday life.
When he is not preparing for the next challenge, Richard spends his time sharing the ocean with others through Cape Town Kayak Safari. Launching from Cape Town’s coastline, he guides visitors and locals alike through one of the most beautiful marine environments in the world.
No two days are ever the same. One morning may bring pods of dolphins swimming alongside the kayaks, another could mean seals, penguins, sunfish or even whales appearing unexpectedly. It is a chance to slow down, appreciate the ocean and share the same passion that has shaped Richard’s life since childhood.
For Richard, the ocean has never simply been a place for records and adventures. It is where life happens.
Whether you want Richard to speak at your next event, explore a partnership, discuss media opportunities, or simply reach out — use the form and he’ll get back to you.
Indian Ocean Expedition 2027
PARTNER WITH RICHARD
The Indian Ocean crossing is Richard’s most ambitious expedition yet — and a rare opportunity for brands to align with a genuine world first. Sponsorship packages include expedition branding, media exposure, social reach, and speaking engagement opportunities.
Richard brings the raw reality of 63 days alone on the ocean into your conference room — and the lessons he learned about resilience, focus, and the power of purpose translate directly into any team or business context.
Resilience Under Pressure
How to keep moving when conditions are impossible and the goal seems unreachable.
Mental Endurance
Managing isolation, fear, and doubt across months of extreme challenge.
Chasing Your Ocean
Identifying and committing to the goals that truly matter — and not stopping until you arrive.
Purpose-Driven Action
How connecting effort to a greater cause multiplies performance and fulfilment.
What to expect
→ First-hand storytelling from the world’s most extreme kayak expedition
→ Stunning photography and video from the crossing
