| Spain. Roz Savage starts Atlantic Rowing Challenge |
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| Wednesday, 30 November 2005 | |
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Alex Foley: San Sebastian, La Gomera, Canary Islands, November 30, 2005. Roz Savage, the only solo female competitor in the Atlantic Rowing Race, has finally begun her Atlantic challenge. A loud fog horn signalled the start of the race at noon today from San Sebastian in La Gomera, the Canaries. The race had been due to start on Sunday but strong southerly winds forced the organisers to postpone until today. The 26 teams have now started rowing westwards across the Atlantic from the Canaries and will continue for 3000 miles to Antigua in the West Indies, a journey which could take some of them up to three months. Before the race start, Roz said ‘I’m relieved to get going at last – it’s been fun but very challenging getting this far, and it will be great to be able to focus purely on the rowing.’ Roz has had a busy few days making final preparations to the boat, attending safety briefings, doing media interviews and conducting final sea trials. The growing sense of excitement was mingled with minor frustrations, including the failure of some equipment to arrive in time for the race start due to delays in Spanish customs. CrystalVision had come on board as cash sponsor just five days before Roz left the UK, so she did a last minute spending spree to buy backups for her most important gadgets including a satellite phone, camcorder, and laptop. The non-arrival of the back-up equipment means she will potentially have to manage without crucial communications in the event of an on-board equipment failure. Physical contact with another vessel would lead to disqualification from the race. Roz’s boat, the Sedna Solo is 23 feet long and six feet wide, the craft has a fore cabin for storage, and a larger aft cabin for sleeping. Solar panels will power the navigational GPS equipment, the Iridium satellite phone, safety equipment including an Argos transponder, the water-maker, bilge-pump, laptop, digital cameras and an iPod. The Royal Navy is supporting Roz and will be monitoring her progress across the Atlantic. Roz’s progress can be tracked real time via her Argos transponder to a map on her website at www.rozsavage.com. |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 November 2005 ) |
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