Row Across The Pacific Ocean!

[Bob Triggs]

I love this story!

www.goldengateendeavour.com (http://www.goldengateendeavour.com)

Scroll down that home page for many news links to the story.

[Susanne@PB&F]

Great feat of endurance and sportsmanship.

Why that particular boat-layout without protection 'working' amidship, and tiny cabin aft ? I know it has been around for a long time but never much seems to address basic physiological needs. The multiple elements of exposure, plus saltwater-spray rashes etc. seem less conducive to the most favorable working-environment.

Therefore the actual accomplishment against these designed-in odds is even more impressive.

[Bob Triggs]

The boat is an open cockpit row boat, that is the whole point of the design- Open Boat- with compromises for safety, efficiency etc, without losing the exposure factors of a real open boat design. This crossing was an heroic accomplishment for sure.

[Robert Meyer]

Susan wrote:
"Why that particular boat-layout without protection 'working' amidship, and tiny cabin aft ? I know it has been around for a long time but never much seems to address basic physiological needs. The multiple elements of exposure, plus saltwater-spray rashes etc. seem less conducive to the most favorable working-environment.

Therefore the actual accomplishment against these designed-in odds is even more impressive."

Must be something to this design for a rowing boat that attracts so many long distance rowers. This is essentially the same design used by:
Paul Ridley
Roz Savage
Peter Michael Kolbe
Lin Griesel & Rachel Smith
Victor Mooney
Julie and Colin Angus
and many many more solo and team rowers crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Of course, everything can be improved, and I'm sure you will provide us with suggestions as to how.

[Steve Paskey]

Must be something to this design for a rowing boat that attracts so many long distance rowers. This is essentially the same design used by: Paul Ridley, Roz Savage, Peter Michael Kolbe, Lin Griesel & Rachel Smith, Victor Mooney, Julie and Colin Angus, and many many more solo and team rowers crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Of course, everything can be improved, and I'm sure you will provide us with suggestions as to how.

Phil Bolger drew two designs for cruising rowboats, both of which have fully enclosed cabins and oar ports. The one discussed in Boats with an Open Mind was designed with a possible trip across the North Pacific in mind. I forget which book the other boat is in.

I don't have the knowledge or experience to speak to the relative merits of this design vs. Phil's boats, but I can say that Phil's would obviously be MUCH more comfortable on a long ocean voyage.

Can anyone here say why long-distance ocean rowers have settled on this design? Surely it's not the best of all possible boats, yet it seems that no one is willing to take a risk on possible improvements.

[Steve Paskey]

The boat is an open cockpit row boat, that is the whole point of the design- Open Boat- with compromises for safety, efficiency etc, without losing the exposure factors of a real open boat design. This crossing was an heroic accomplishment for sure.

But where it is written that long-distance ocean rowing must be done in an open boat? Is an enclosed cabin somehow considered to be "cheating"?

As Phil pointed out somewhere, the whole idea of rowing oceans involves arbitrary restrictions ... why not raise a small sail when winds are favorable? And can anyone who has rowed an ocean ever prove that they didn't carry a sail aboard and do just that when no one was looking?

I'm not trying to take anything away from these guys ... it's a wonderful story and a fantastic achievement. But that doesn't answer the question: why an open boat?

(As a matter of simple preference, I'm not a fan of the birdwatcher-style cabins for casual recreation. But here, a cabin seems both safer and more comfortable.)

[Salty Sailor]

Perhaps its an airflow problem.
It can get hot and stuffy rowing inside a box. Its also nice to have a veiw and see the wave height and wave rythum to lift the oars neatly over them.

[Bob Triggs]

But where it is written that long-distance ocean rowing must be done in an open boat? Is an enclosed cabin somehow considered to be "cheating"?

As Phil pointed out somewhere, the whole idea of rowing oceans involves arbitrary restrictions ... why not raise a small sail when winds are favorable? And can anyone who has rowed an ocean ever prove that they didn't carry a sail aboard and do just that when no one was looking?

I'm not trying to take anything away from these guys ... it's a wonderful story and a fantastic achievement. But that doesn't answer the question: why an open boat?

(As a matter of simple preference, I'm not a fan of the birdwatcher-style cabins for casual recreation. But here, a cabin seems both safer and more comfortable.)

If you look into the culture of Ocean Rowers and their boats you will see many similar boats. I believe the design allows for a true open boat while providing some better survival features than a traditional open boat would. "Where is it written..." Well Steve, I don't write the rules. Im sure you could row in anything you like. But when it comes to these boats they are approaching a kind of "Class" of their own.