Endurance and Extreme Rowing

Today, in developed countries, we might not use rowing boats for trade or battle but, apart from leisure and sporting activities, they also provide the opportunities for personal endurance, physical and mental challenge. It might come as a surprise to learn that this isn't a modern day phenomenon as the first Atlantic Crossing (discounting explorations and expeditions in larger ships) in a small rowing boat was achieved by Frank Samuelsen and George Harbo in 1896 when they they took 55 days, to row 3250 miles from Manahttan, USA, to Le Havre, in France, with just a stop in the Scilly Isles. It was 1969 before a solo crossing was successfully accomplished and this was by John Fairfax who rowed from Gran Canaria to Florida in 180 days. Also in 1969, and completing his trans atlantic feat only 8 days after John Fairfax, but completing his journey in a signifcantly shorter period of time, Tom McLean rowed singlehanded from Newfoundland, Canada, to Blacksod Bay in Ireland. After these momentous 'first time' events there came numerous other crossings either single handed or in company but frequently with some other self - imposed restriction or impediment to give them 'first to achieve' status. Many were successful but some failed in the attempt. The seas are extreme and unforgiving and should never be treated without the utmost respect. In 1997 record breaking sailor and rower Chay Blyth set up a rowing race from the Canary Islands to the West Indies, a distance of 4700 kms.

The Atlantic became less of a challenge once it had been conquered several times so attention turned to the other great oceans of the world, in particular to the Pacific. Two years after he successfully rowed across the Atlantic John Fairfax set out, with Sylvia Cook, from San Franscico, California in 1971 and 361 days and just 3 stops later, they reached Hayman Island in Australia. Again, Pacific crossings, with additional restrictions to overcome, followed as both men and women pushed themselves to greater and greater feats of endurance.