In recent years more people have rowed across oceans than at
any time in history. You might say it is a modern phenomenon.
However, Frank Samuelsen and George Harbo are credited with
being the first to row across any ocean. Departing from Battery Park, Manhattan
on 6th June 1896, they rowed across the Atlantic to the Scilly
Isles, taking 55 days. From there they rowed to Le Havre, in France.
John Fairfax became the first person to row solo across the
Atlantic Ocean. That was in 1969. Setting off from the Canary Islands he
arrived in Florida after being at sea for 180 days! Not satisfied with that,
he, along with Sylvia Cook, became the first couple to row across the Pacific. They
put to sea from San Francisco on 26th April, 1971, and after 361
days they arrived at Hayman Island, Australia.
The record for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic by a
solo rower is held by Charlie Pitcher,* whom I had the privilege of meeting
last Saturday at Burnham Yacht Harbour. He took 35 days and 33 minutes to
complete the crossing.**
When I met Charlie he was helping to launch one of his ocean
rowing boats, designed and manufactured at the Ocean Rowing Company.*** The photos
above were taken at the time, and they give a snapshot of view of the high-tech
vessel.
*Charlie Pitcher: http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/charlie-pitcher.html
**Solo Rower Breaks Atlantic Rowing Record: http://www.worldrowing.com/news/solo-rower-breaks-atlantic-rowing-record
***The Ocean Rowing Company: http://www.rannochadventure.com/
Other Links
Ocean Rowing
Frank Samuelsen and George Harbo
John Fairfax
Sylvia Cook
TransAtlanticSolo.com
Roz Savage
Roz Savage Rows Again
Charlie Pitcher Again
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