Anne Miltenberger, Lauren Greenspon, Cindy Vanover and Jen Edney have a vision. Forming a team called Rowing for the Environment, the group plans to row a boat across the Atlantic Ocean. As participants in the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race of 2009, the team will row in a Woodvale Fours Class Boat 2,900 nautical miles from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to English Harbour in Antigua. The effort is meant to highlight the problem of marine debris and support the Keep America Beautiful organization that is fighting to keep litter out of the world’s oceans.
Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race 2009
The Rowing for the Environment team will row a yet unnamed boat in competition with at least eight other teams across the Atlantic. Teams will depart La Gomera, Canary Islands on December 6, 2009. The adventure will test the spirit and physical ability of team members. While race organizers stress safety as vital to their organization's continued success, the racers will still face harsh weather and all that the Atlantic Ocean can throw at them.
The December launch date is planned to take advantage of prevailing southwesterly currents and favorable winds. A late start in the year should also help with avoiding tropical storms or hurricanes.
The Woodvale Fours Class Boat
Woodvale Challenge organizes ocean rowing races across the globe and they require a craft that can safely navigate these open stretches of water. The organization has been responsible for supporting more successful ocean crossings with rowing craft than any other group.
The boat used in the race stems from a prototype built in 2005 to break the record for transiting the Atlantic from Canada to Scilly Isles in 2005. This design was used to produce the boats first used in 2006 North Atlantic Rowing Race. The Woodvale Fours Class Boat is designed to be self-righting and handle an extreme wave environment.
Name the Boat Contest
Andrew Canepari, who operates several boating related businesses, is sponsoring a contest to help the Rowing for the Environment team and name their boat at the same time. Andrew has blog dedicated to boat names called of all things the Boat Name Blog and this venue seems very appropriate for promoting this cause. Visit the site for more information on the naming contest.
Canepari tells Boating and Sailing, “It's a brave group of women that are in the real contest - the race across the ocean - and by suggesting a boat name and telling their friends, people will not only have a chance to win over $650 in prizes, but they'll also be helping to raise awareness for the foursome's journey and their charity.”
The team is currently the only one registered in the race from the United States and one of only a few teams composed totally of women. It will be worth watching these women in their quest that offers both personal and environmental benefits.
 |
 |
 |
 |
