Across the Atlantic: a Bosch associate rows 5,000 kilometers
The sun slowly rises over the Canary Islands as, on December 11, 2024, Gregor Wacker grabs his oar in a small boat, ready to set off. His companion — a Canadian woman he met a year earlier through a Facebook group and during two quick video calls — sits behind him. After hundreds of hours of training together on Lake Constance and the Mediterranean, they have become a true team. All that lies ahead of them is the Atlantic — 5,000 kilometers of water, seven weeks of uncertainty. “The alarm clock goes off in the morning and you know: Today’s the day. Today it begins,” recalls the organizational developer in Bosch Digital’s HR organization.
The decision to embark on this adventure was years in the making. Thirty years ago, Wacker read a newspaper article about an Englishman planning to cross the Atlantic in a rowing boat. “At the time, I asked myself: How is that supposed to work?” he remembers. The question stuck with him. 26 years later, he added crossing the Atlantic to his list of lifelong dreams — and made it a reality in 2024.
Going with the waves
What awaited him was one of the toughest challenges imaginable. Every two hours, Wacker and his partner would take turns: while one person rowed, the other retreated into one of the two tiny cabins to grab a little sleep. In between, they made quick meals from their provisions, maintained the boat, and scrubbed salt off the solar cells. They looked after the water desalination system, checked navigation data, and stayed in touch with the sea rescue service. “The ocean is unpredictable,” Wacker says today. “You have to prepare for everything — in the end, you never know what’s coming.”
The then 53-year-old was put to the test right from the start. A storm was brewing, with waves up to ten meters high. He was seasick for two days, but he had no choice: he had to keep rowing — his shifts continued. Once, the boat capsized. “For a brief moment, you’re underwater, everything spins, and you know: If you lose your nerve, you lose the boat. Fortunately, nothing happened, but I had to perform some repairs,” he recalls.
But as well as these extremes, Wacker experienced many wonderful moments that have stayed with him to this day. Dolphins kept them company, flying fish landed on deck, whales and turtles appeared nearby. Those nights he spent alone at the oars were the highlight of the adventure for him: “I’ve never seen so many stars. Just the sky above me — not a single artificial light. It was magical.”
Shaped by adventure:
the organizational developer before and after the adventure of a lifetime
The journey created an unusual closeness. There was no toilet on the boat, just a bucket — privacy simply wasn’t possible. “That experience drew us together. My partner was open and easy-going; we never argued. We had the same mindset: We can do this.” This conviction carried them through storms and waves. Both were also motivated by a social purpose. They shared their journey online and on social media, raising around EUR 10,000 for charities in Canada, Scotland, and Germany — proof that courage and perseverance can make a difference for others, not just yourself.
The power of thought
Extreme situations weren’t new for Wacker. As a former military diver, challenges were nothing new to him; he’s parachuted from planes, completed Ironman races and marathons, and has been a passionate athlete for many years. And yet, he says, this journey was something special. “This was the epic adventure I always wanted to experience. I still get goosebumps today.” He was particularly impressed by the power of thought and mindset: “I can’t change the weather. But I can choose the right clothing, secure equipment on the boat, improve navigation. It’s a mental thing: Staying calm and focusing on what I can control.”
His attitude is closely connected to his work at Bosch Digital. Projects, he says, are much like an Atlantic crossing: they require preparation, planning, and a team willing to critically question things and highlight risks. “Preparation is vital. In extreme situations, you see how well you’ve prepared.” The two adventurers never doubted themselves. In the middle of the ocean, they were already discussing what it would be like to arrive in Antigua. “I imagined us rowing into the harbor, lighting our flares — packed exactly for that moment. That image kept me going.” After 49 days, they docked at the Caribbean island. Exhausted, but brimming with joy. “I was just grateful. And proud. It was the greatest adventure of my life.”
Don’t put off your dreams
Back in Germany, Wacker often thinks about the trip. It changed him. Now, he knows how important it is to adapt to changing conditions and keep your cool when everything happens at once. Above all, however, he has learned that you should never ignore the things you truly want. “You shouldn’t put off your dreams. Just do it — you’ll never regret it.”