The Ruthless Waves of the Atlantic: The Dramatic Rescue of a Record-Breaking Rowing Duo

2025.02.21.

Twenty days, over 2,000 kilometres on the open sea, endurance, strength, and a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. In January 2025, Norbi Szabó and Gergő Havasi set out to row across the Atlantic Ocean—only for their expedition to turn into a nightmare overnight. A massive wave capsized their boat, leaving them in a perilous situation amid the endless waters.

How did they survive? What physical and mental challenges did they face while battling the stormy ocean? And what lessons did they take away from this extraordinary ordeal?

In our exclusive interview, Norbi Szabó shares his story—recounting the adventure, the moments of survival, and why he would never embark on another journey without Zoleo.

Could you tell us a little about yourself? Where are you from, and what kind of outdoor activities do you enjoy?

My name is Norbert Adam Szabo, and I’m from Hungary. I’m a professional sailor and sailing instructor.
In 2016, I crossed the Atlantic Ocean with my friend Levente Kovacsik in a double-man kayak, completing the journey in 64 days. That was a Guinness World Record.
I love sailing, which is why I bought a 38ft Contest sailing boat last year. Soon, I’ll be embarking on a new expedition: sailing around the world with my love and our puppy, Honey.

What inspired your trip, and where were you when the incident happened?

Crossing an ocean in a small boat is always an adventure. For me, this expedition was a fantastic experience and an opportunity to gain more professional knowledge for future plans.
When we capsized, I was on my shift, rowing and steering the boat. The weather was quite good, and the forecast from Zoleo was spot on. The wind had dropped, and I wasn’t expecting any trouble when the boat unexpectedly capsized on a giant wave.

Can you walk us through what happened that day? What led up to the moment you triggered the SOS?

We capsized at 1:30 AM. I was thrown into the ocean, while my partner, Gergo, was sleeping inside the cabin. As soon as I got on top of the capsized boat (it should have turned back by itself, according to the emergency protocol, but it didn’t), I was able to contact Gergo through the hull.
We were both okay—no serious injuries or pain—so I started trying to turn the boat back with my weight, while Gergo attempted to assist from inside the boat. When we realized the boat wouldn’t turn back, we had no choice but for Gergo to open the cabin door and join me in trying to flip it. After a few minutes, our combined weight was enough to turn the boat back upright.

Once the boat was righted, we had to stabilize it and proceed with the next step of the protocol: emptying the water from the open cabin. The first moment we had to catch our breath and assess the situation was at 8:00 AM. Six hours had passed in what felt like no time at all. It was unbelievable.

After discussing with Gergo, we realized that continuing the expedition without electricity, with a damaged sea anchor, and a boat that wouldn’t right itself after capsizing, would be far too dangerous.
This was the moment we pressed the SOS button and called for rescue.

What injuries or challenges were you facing at that time? How did it feel knowing you had a ZOLEO device with you in that moment? Did you use the device or the ZOLEO app to send the SOS? What kind of communication did you have with the response team? Were they able to provide reassurance or guidance? How long did it take for help to arrive, and what was the rescue process like?

We only sustained minor injuries, but we faced several challenges. After activating the SOS, we remained in constant contact with the ZOLEO rescue team, and their support was invaluable.
They kept us updated with critical information that made us feel safe. Thanks to Zoleo, we knew immediately that the rescue was underway, and we could speak with a coordinator and get in touch with the MRCC center. As soon as the rescue vessels, Berge Rosa and Washington, were on their way, they kept us informed of their ETA, which was incredibly reassuring. Without Zoleo, we would have been completely isolated—able only to activate our PLB and wait for rescue with no information.
We triggered the SOS on Zoleo at around 7:30 AM, and the rescue vessel Berge Rosa reached us at about 6:30 PM.

The rescue process was smooth but still dangerous. We spotted the Berge Rosa from a distance, but they didn’t see us. We had to deploy our emergency flares to get their attention.
When this enormous 300-meter-long vessel approached, we were frightened—it could easily have collided with us, destroying our boat. But the captain and crew did an incredible job.
The sea was calm, but we had 3-meter-high squalls that made it extremely difficult to grab the ladder and climb aboard. Since the Berge Rosa was heading to northern France, they couldn’t tow our boat, so we had to leave it behind. Unfortunately, I forgot to switch the Zoleo back to normal mode, and after either the solar panel or inverter broke, the Zoleo’s battery began to run low and eventually turned off. Now, we are calculating the drift of the boat and trying to estimate its arrival in the Caribbean region.

How are you doing now? Have you fully recovered from the incident? Looking back, what lessons did you take away from this experience? What advice would you give to others who are considering whether to carry a satellite communicator?

We’re doing well now, as we spent 14 days aboard the Berge Rosa, which gave us time to recover.
The crew was kind, and we had everything we needed to feel safe and well cared for.
As I’ve mentioned, this project was an excellent opportunity for us to gain valuable professional knowledge. We realized that the quality of both the boat and the equipment is crucial.
We also recognized some mistakes we made. For instance, we didn’t bring a spare sea anchor.
We’ve concluded that the project is absolutely feasible, but we need to make some improvements and changes to the boat. And we’ve learned that in an SOS emergency situation, Zoleo is indispensable. I will never again venture onto the ocean without it. It truly saved our lives.

Additional content:
Facebook (Gergő Havasi page): Go to the Facebook page
Facebook (Norbert Ádám Szabó page): Go to the Facebook page