That first trip, from Dakar in Senegal to Acaraú in Brazil, would set the record for the longest unaided transatlantic canoe trip. Most such trips are supported by sails, but not in Doba’s case. He is one of two people to have completed the journey relying solely on muscle power through rowing. Katorga For 99 days, Doba rowed across the Atlantic, braving inhospitable conditions and mental strain. As he described it to New York Times Magazine kayaking is real katorga (a name for the forced labour carried out in the USSR). According to Doba, the strains involved in performing such a long kayak trip are more mental than physical. Still, he did lose 14 kilograms in the 14 weeks of the journey.