Ocean Crossing with Oar Power
Battling strong currents and wind patterns can
lead to difficult, if not impossible
crossovers.
Rowing across an ocean appeals to a special
breed of sailor. It's someone who wants a new
challenge, a new way to connect with nature or a
new adventure. For some the voyage is spiritual,
for others a test of endurance. The Europeans
have popularized the sport over the past few
years and now more Americans are joining in.
And
increasingly, the sailors are rowing to make
money for charities. Forget about a wooden
rowboat, modern day ocean rowers ply their oars
in sleek vessels, bristling with technology that
look like race cars of the seas. These
sailors also firmly believe in safety
preparedness.
They know that battling strong currents and wind
patterns can lead to difficult, if not
impossible crossovers.
We are proud that the amazing athletes you will
read about here chose Fiorentino anchors to
position their boats into the waves and
successfully ride out the inevitable storms.
We have asked some of this new breed of sailors
to share their stories with you. Scroll down and
learn what drives them to row across open
oceans.
Most of these rowers maintain a blog of their
adventure by posting dispatches to their
website. See the "read more" links.
Seattle-based Erden Eruc, keeps on going
A technical consultant with graduate degrees in
engineering and an MBA, Erden decided at the age
of 41 to leave the money, the rat race, and an
unfulfilling career behind for the adventure
that he had been dreaming of for years. He is
now focused full-time on tending to his
responsibilities as the founder and President of
Around-n-Over a non-profit organization that
promotes education for children and inspires the
adventurer in all of us.
Website
Katie
Spotz, youngest rower ever to cross ocean solo
GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- After a bold 2,817 mile (4,500
kilometer) journey from West Africa that took her 70
days, five hours and 22 minutes to complete,
Katie Spotz, 22, arrived in Guyana, in South
America - setting the world record for the youngest
rower to cross the ocean solo. Katie also raised an
impressive amount of money for the Blue Planet Run
Foundation to promote safe drinking water around the
world.
Website
Paul Ridley rows for hope in memory of mother
Paul’s unsupported
trans-Atlantic expedition began in the Canary
Islands on January 1, 2009. With only oars to power
him, he set off from Africa toward South America,
crossing the whole of the Atlantic Ocean. Along the
way he rowed more than 3,000 nautical miles and
spent 87 days and nights at sea, landing in the
Caribbean on March 29, 2009. The expedition was an
opportunity for Paul to make a significant
contribution to cancer research
in memory of his
mother.
Website
Graduates
from Puget Sound Make Rowboat History
Docking in Falmouth, England, with friends and
family cheering them on, the four University of
Puget Sound graduates became the first men to row
from mainland United States to mainland United
Kingdom. They are also the first Americans to row
the North Atlantic. Jordan Hanssen, Dylan LeValley,
Greg Spooner and Brad Vickers were one of four teams
in the first Ocean Fours Race that started in New
York on June 10. OAR Northwest won the 2,863-mile
race. The team
raised money for the American Lung Association.
Website
ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTE:
Our special thanks to the
rowers who provided their photographs and stories to
Fiorentino. All stories are arranged chronologically
with the most recent voyage first. We would love to
hear about your voyage using the Fiorentino anchor.
To submit your story or to suggest changes or
credits to this
page please contact
Fiorentino
