Paddler Makes First Ever Atlantic Crossing In Sea Kayak

Yesterday our friend Jon Bowermaster, who happens to write for Gadling.com as well, posted a great story on that site about a paddler who completed the first ever crossing of the Atlantic in a sea kayak. The journey took just shy of 99 days to complete and covered 3352 miles.

Way back in October, Polish paddler Aleksander Doba set out from Dakar, Senegal with his sights set on arriving in Fortaleza, Brazil. Jon points out that that is a distance of just 2000 miles or so, if you travel in a straight line, but thanks to high winds, especially in the first two months, and drift from ocean currents, Doba wasn't able to travel in a straight line, or anything close to resembling such. Those high winds and currents helped to tack on the extra 1300+ miles of paddling.

Doba is no stranger to long distance paddle either. Amongst his other achievements in a kayak are a 2,600-mile paddle around the Baltic Sea in 1999, a 3,300 mile journey from Poland to Norway back in 2000 and a 1,200 mile circumnavigation of Lake Baikal that was completed just last year. Jon notes that the Pole paddles a 23-foot long sea kayak "with monster roll bars and a pair of flotation cabins at either end."

As if reading about Doba's accomplishments in a kayak weren't inspiring enough, he also happens to be 64-years old. Pretty impressive accomplishment at any age, and even more so after 60. I hope I can be anywhere close to that active when I'm that age.

Well done Aleksander!

Want To Row An Ocean?

Have you ever felt the urge to spend a few weeks (or longer!) at sea? Have you ever read about ocean rowers challenging themselves on the open water and thought that you could do that too? Well, you're in luck, as there are a couple of opportunities, for the right person, to join an ocean row across the Atlantic.

British adventurer Alastair Humphreys wrote an interesting blog post over the weekend that shares the details on not one but two vacancies on crews that will be departing from Agadir in Morocco in the early part of January. Applicants will have to be available directly after Christmas and will have some expenses to cover if they'd like to join one of the teams. Alastair has an estimated list of those expenses on his blog, that includes flights to Morocco and supplies for the journey.

If you're interested in joining one of these adventures, then click here to read all the particulars, including contact information for the crew leads that you would be reporting to while on this aquatic adventure. If you've ever dreamed of this kind of challenge, this is probably as easy as it gets, since you'll be on a crew that is already formed and much of the logistics are already done. Seems like a great opportunity for the right person.

Sarah Outen Announces Human Powered Circumnavigation Attempt

You all remember Sarah Outen right? She's the 25-year old British woman we followed closely as she rowed solo across the Indian Ocean last year, becoming the first woman, and the youngest person to accomplish that feat. After taking some time off for much deserved rest and recuperation, Sarah is now ready to clue us all in on her next expedition, which is even more ambitious than her ocean row.

Sarah has announced that beginning April 1st, 2011, she will be embarking on a new expedition dubbed London2London, during which she will attempt to circumnavigate the globe completely under her own power. That means rowing the oceans and biking the continents, in what she estimates to be a 2.5 year endeavor to circle the planet.

Her route will naturally begin and end in London of course. She'll start off by kayaking down the Thames and across the Channel to France. From there, she'll get on her bike and head east, crossing Europe and Asia, eventually arriving on the Russian East Coast. After that, it's back in the kayak for a little jaunt to Japan, where she plans to spend some time before embarking on a solo row across the Northern Pacific Ocean, which she hopes to begin in the spring of 2012. Arriving in Vancouver, she'll begin another bike leg, crossing through Canada and the U.S. before arriving in Nova Scotia, where she'll get in her row boat one more time for a solo row across the North Atlantic.

You've got to hand it to the girl, she sure has ambition. You can read more about Sarah's plans in this interview over at WideWorld. Also, be sure to check out the video below so you can listen and watch Sarah announce her plans in person.

84-Year Old Adventurer to Challenge the Atlantic on a Raft

84-year old Anthony Smith is preparing to complete a life long dream by crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a simple raft made out of plastic gas pipes. The octogenarian, along with a crew of three other men, will set sail in January, aboard the raft that they have dubbed the An-tiki in a nod to Thor Heyerdahl's famous raft the Kon-tiki.

Smith will be joined on the voyage by Robin Batchelor, age 61, 57-year old David Hildred, and Andy Bainbridge, 56. Each of the men have a history of adventure, with Hildred and Bainbridge both experienced sailors, and Batchelor and Smith balloonists. Smith found the rest of his crew by running an advertisement in the U.K.'s Telegraph that simply said: "Fancy rafting across the Atlantic? Famous traveller requires 3 crew. Must be OAP. Serious adventurers only."

The voyage is expected to take approximately two months to complete, covering more than 2800 miles beginning in the Canary Islands and ending in the Bahamas. The crew hopes to take advantage of the active trade winds that begin early in the year and hope to arrive well before the start of the Atlantic storm season.

The raft will be constructed out of sections of plastic pipes, which will be sealed at one end, trapping the air inside to give the craft buoyancy.  There will also be two simple shelters, made from pig huts, and a short fence will mark the border around the outside of the raft. That will be in place to help prevent the men from falling overboard, although they'll also employ harnesses to help keep them in place as well. 

Smith first came up with the idea of making this crossing while he was an RAF pilot back in 1952. It has been on his mind ever since, even as he pursued other adventures such as crossing the Alps in a hot air balloon. After years of planning and dreaming, he's finally getting underway in a few months time. 

More Sailing Updates: Two Expeditions Coming To An End

With all of this talk about these young girls making their solo circumnavigation attempts, it's sometimes easy to forget that there are some other great sea borne adventures that have been taking place, two of which are coming to an end today.

First up, Reid Stowe, who I've mentioned a few times in the past, is about to finish up his 1000 Days at Sea Expedition. He's actually been at sea for 1152 days, and will be pulling into New York harbor sometime today.

The goal of the expedition was to demonstrate the possibilities of making a journey to Mars, and when he began the voyage, he was hoping so simulate the conditions that astronauts could possibly face if they were on a prolonged journey. That was more than three years ago, and at long last, he'll set foot on land once again today, where he'll be greeted by hundreds of well wishers, including Soanya Ahmad, who began the journey with him, but was forced to leave after 305 days due to debilitating sea sickness. Turns out that she was also pregnant, and would later give birth to their son. Since that time, Reid has spent more than two years alone at sea.

I'll bet he'll be happy to be back on land tonight.

Meanwhile, jumping to the west coast, a few days back I posted an update on the Around the Americas Team, and how they were closing in on their final destination as well. Turns out, today will be the day for them to return home as well. The crew of the Ocean Watch should reach Seattle sometime this afternoon too, bringing an end to their 13-month circumnavigation of North and South America that saw them navigating their way through the Northwest Passage. This amazing journey has never been completed before, and while making the voyage, the crew took water samples and recorded all kinds of data to help us to better understand the impact of global climate change on the health of our seas.

I want to take the opportunity to with both Reid and the Ocean Watch crew home. Your two respective journeys have been tremendous to follow.

Around The Americas Update: Nearly Home!

I haven't really mentioned much about the Around the Americas expedition since they made their way through the perilous waters off of Cape Horn. That was back in January, and since that time, they've had plenty of adventures, as they've sailed up the west coasts of both North and South America, making their way back to where they started, Seattle, Washington. Now, they're within a few days of completing their epic journey, and finishing a sailing adventure that had never been done before.

For those who aren't familiar with the expedition, the crew of the Ocean Watch set sail from Seattle last May with the idea of circumnavigating the continents of both North and South America. Until recent years, the journey wasn't even possible, but thanks to global climate change, the Northwest Passage has been navigable for the past few years. Upon beginning their voyage, the ship sailed north, to Alaska, and began what was perhaps the most treacherous portion of the trip through the ice waters of the Arctic Ocean. Once they cleared that section, they turned south, down the coast of North and South America, around the Horn, and then back North, where they are now, more than a year after starting, and closing in on their destination.

Of course, the journey wasn't just about the adventure itself. Along the way, the crew was joined by a variety of guests, and throughout the journey, a number of scientific experiments were made, and sample were taken, to record the impact of global climate change on the oceans and seas through which they passed. When they get back home, the crew of the Ocean Watch, will deliver some very important data that could offer some great insights into the health of our oceans.

I'll post an update again when they've reached Seattle. It's been a long journey, and you can read about their experiences in their blog, which they've been keeping since the beginning, and has lots of great information and stores to tell. Read it by clicking here.

World Oceans Day: Save Our Planet, Save Ourselves

Today is World Oceans Day, and considering what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico at the moment, it seems fitting to stop and reflect on what we are doing to our seas, and how that effects the rest of the world.

We've known for some time that the health of our oceans has a direct impact on the health of the rest of the planet. The oceans are the engines that drive the air currents and weather patterns that have long term, and lasting effects on the environments around us, and yet we seem to have neglected them for too long. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a depressing example of how we have treated the oceans as a dumping grounds, and it is scary just how much crap has accumulated out there. All of that garbage is contaminating and killing off fish at an alarming rate, and yet we seem powerless to do anything about it.

Of course, the massive oil spill that has been going on for more than six weeks in the Gulf of Mexico is just another example of how poorly we have treated the oceans. The oil that has been spewing out of that hole in the Earth has has created an environmental disaster of unprecedented proportions, and we're now told it will take years to clean it all up. Worse yet, today we got the news that the oil is not just on the surface as we had first believed, but is now being found in low levels under the water as well. Meanwhile, endangered turtle species, untold numbers of fish, manatees, birds, and other creatures are all at risk, as the oil continues to spread further eastward.

Environmentalists keep telling us that we need to change our ways. That our lifestyle is destroying the planet. But that is, once again, very short sighted. We're not destroying the planet, we're destroying ourselves. The Earth has survived far worse than what we can throw at it, and the sooner we realize that, the better we'll be. A better, more healthy, and environmentally sound approach to our own lives will lead to better, more healthy world as well. It's as simple as save our planet, save ourselves.

Scotsman Sets Out To Row Atlantic, Run The U.S.

It's good to have goals. They give you something to strive for in life. Just ask Scotsman Don Lennox, who has set a couple of lofty ones for himself. Don had decided that he not only wants to row across the Atlantic Ocean, a distance of 3300 miles, but he also is planning on running across the United States, an additional 3100 miles. Oh, and he hopes to accomplish both in record time.

This past Sunday, Lennox joined three other rowers in launching their attempt to cross the Atlantic starting from Battery Park in New York City. The crew will now row non-stop, 24-hours a day, in two man shifts in an attempt to break the world's speed record. They hope to reach the shores of England in 45 days or less.

That, in and of itself, is a daunting task and an impressive goal for any athlete. But in Don's case, it is just the beginning. Upon completing his Atlantic crossing, he'll board a plane and fly to San Francisco, California where he'll begin the second stage of his adventure - running coast-to-coast across the United States, something he hopes to accomplish in just 50 days.

Lennox, who is a Somnio sponsored athlete, is making this row and run for a great cause. He hopes to raise fund and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project and Help For Heroes, two organizations dedicated to helping severely injured soldiers, on both sides of the pond, to get back on the road to recovery.

You can read Don's blog by clicking here and you can follow his progress across the Atlantic by clicking here. So far, he is two days in, and making steady progress.

Ocean Rowing: Katie's Done!

For the past few months we've been following Katie Spotz as she rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in an effort to raise funds for the the Blue Planet Run Foundation. After more than 70 days out on the water, Katie reached her destination on Sunday, setting several records in the process.

Katie began her epic adventure way back at the beginning of the year when she got underway from Dakar, Senegal, on the west coast of Africa. On Sunday, she arrived in Georgetown, Guiana, having covered some 2817 miles in between. The official time for the crossing was 70 days, 5 hours, and 22 minutes, although she could have finished faster had she allowed herself to be towed in the final few miles. Upon her approach to the South American coastline, high winds and ocean currents began to work agains the 22-year old rower, but rather than give up on her goal of making the solo crossing under her own power, Katie turned her 19-foot yellow boat to the northwest, and rowed eight more days, so that she could find calmer waters with which to finish the expedition.

Upon reaching the finish line, Katie became the youngest person to ever row across an ocean, while managing to raise more than $70,000 for Blue Planet Run, an organization dedicated to funding clean drinking water projects around the world. The money that Katie raised will go directly to helping those projects, which will no doubt help countless people.

According to her Twitter account, Katie has had a busy few days since finishing up. Not only is she getting use to being back on land, she's enjoying the luxuries of having plenty of good food at her disposal too. It seems like she's enjoying some downtime in Guiana and will be updating us with more information about her final hours on the water soon.

Well done Katie and congratulations!

Ocean Rowing: The Science of Rowing An Ocean

Ever wonder how the ocean rowers, such as Roz Savage or Sarah Outen, manage to cross vast bodies of water, spending weeks at a time at sea, alone, and completely self sufficient? Then Popular Mechanics has just the article for you. The story takes an in depth look at exactly what kind of gear and equipment you need to successfully cross an ocean under your own power.

Popular Mechanics actually takes a specific case study by checking in with Katie Spotz, who is currently rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, and recently reached the halfway point of her voyage. In fact, they even have an audio interview with Katie, conducted via satellite phone from the middle of the Atlantic, who says that she is doing well, and that the weather is being very cooperative thus far.

Perhaps even more interesting than the interview itself however, is the information on all of the high tech gear that is aiding in the voyage. Pop. Mechanics looks at everything from the shape of her boat, to the route that she chose, and the ways she powers her gadgets while at sea. They touch on her food and water supply and the communications systems she has in place to stay in touch with the team back home.

All in all this is an interesting piece that helps to explain just how these long distance rowers manage to exist for all those days out on the ocean. Like all expeditions, there always seems to be a way to get things done.

Ocean Rowing: Katie's Halfway Done!

I haven't posted an update on Katie Spotz since she set out on her trans-Atlantic row, but I can assure you that she is making good progress. According to an update that came across her Twitter feed yesterday, she has now rowed more than 1287 miles, leaving her with "just" 1270 more to go.

You may recall that Katie set out from Senegal, along the West Coast of Africa, back on January 3rd with the intent of arriving in Guyana, South America. Initial estimates suggested that it would take the 22-year old American woman somewhere between 70-100 days to complete the journey, and now, 37 days later, she seems on track to easily make that goal.

The entire project has been undertaken to raise funds and awareness of the Blue Planet Run, an organization that is dedicated to promoting and funding clean water projects all over the planet. The according to their website, the non-profit organization has "partnered with 59 non-governmental organizations worldwide to implement more than 200 sustainable water projects in 21 countries impacting hundreds of thousands of lives" since it was created back in 2004.

So what exactly does it take to power your way across the Atlantic? In a recent blog post, from her 34th day out on the water, Katie ran down her inventory of food consumed so far. Here's what she's eaten at this point:

300 Clif bars (lots of different flavors)
210 dehydrated lunches/dinners
98 dehydrated breakfast meals
90 Snickers bars
80 Bumble bars
70 trail mix bags (small)
50 Twix, Butterfinger, and Hersheys bars
42 dehydrated desserts (cheesecake or chocolate pudding)
40 salmon or tuna packs
18 bags dried mango (plain and spicy)
12 bags of beef or turkey jerky
7 bags of dried plantains
8 bags almonds
12 bags cashews
5 bags dried cherries
6 bags wasabi peas
8 hard bread packs with almond butter
12 bags of crackers
10 bags dried pears
10 bags of mission fig and calamyrna figs
8 bags of dried peas
7 boxes of biscotti
30 sunflower packs (small)
200 GU Energy gels
100 GU Blocks
7 bags dried blueberries
40 gummies bags
50 fruit leathers
6 bags of flattened banana
4 bags of mangosteen
12 packs of chocolate covered ginger
4 bags of tangy almonds
3 bags of whey protein
2 packs of Fig Newtons
6 bags of sesame crepes
2 chocolate cookies bags
Nuun electrolyte replacement tablets
1 sprouting kit with lots of seeds!

And despite all of those calories, she's still probably losing weight! :)

Solo Sailing Update: Jessica Survives The Horn, Storms

Last week I noted that the Around The Americas crew was clearing Cape Horn on their attempt to circumnavigate North and South America, but it turns out they weren't alone in sailing those treacherous waters. Jessica Watson, who is in the midst of her attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world, has also recently cleared the Horn, and is currently facing storm waters off the Falklands.

The 16-year old Australian girl cleared the cape back on January 14th, and then proceeded on to the Falkland Islands as she heads out onto the open waters of the Atlantic. In her recent posts to her blog, she noted that winds have been light, but steady, for the most part, and she has been happy with her progress since rounding the southern most tip of South America, which required four very long days without much sleep.

Things got even more interesting over the weekend when a storm moved into the area, tossing Jessica and her ship, the Ella's Pink Lady, around like a model. In fact, in her blog post from yesterday, the teenager says that her ship has experienced four "knockdowns", which essentially means the winds and waves have knocked the boat on to it's side, including one that she describes as "the mast being pushed 180 degrees in to the water." Scary stuff!

The winds were so bad at one point that Jessica recorded them at 65 knots (roughly 75 mph!) That was before losing her wind instruments in one of the knockdowns. As a result of these conditions, Jessica battened down the hatches and stayed below decks, allowing her electric autopilot to keep her on course, downwind from the storm.

The post is quite the harrowing read and a bit of an insight into what it is like out there on the open waters. This girl has even more respect form me than she did before, as I'm sure I'd be limping into the nearest port, and booking the next plane ticket home. Jessica seems nonplussed by the activities though, and will continue on as planned.

In related new, Adventure World Magazine is reporting that Abby Sunderland has set sail on her attempt to sail solo around the world as well. Abby, who is also just 16 years old, set out on Saturday. You can read her thoughts and updates on her blog as well. Good lucky Abby!

The Woodvale Challenge is Underway, Finally!

After several false starts, the Woodvale Ocean Rowing Challenge finally got underway today, with the original Atlantic Rowing Race launching from the Canary Islands, located just off the coast of northwest Africa. The contestants, competing in solo, double, and quadruple person categories, will now race to Antigua in the West Indies of the Caribbean Sea.

The competitors will be carrying supplies for up to three months at sea, as they row the more than 2550 miles across the ocean, burning as much as 10,000 calories per day. All told, there are approximately 30 boats competing in the event, with the teams with two and four members rowing non-stop, 24/7, to reach the finish line.

You'll be able to follow along on the action at the race's official website, and through the (what else) Twitter feed at @AtlanticRowRace. On the website, you can track team progress, view photos, and get the latest news on events happening out on the water. For a more personal look at what is happening, check out the personal blog of Pete Van Kets, a South African competing in the solo category.

The race was actually set to get underway in mid-December, but thanks to continued waves of bad weather, the start was postponed multiple times. It seems like the weather window has finally opened however, and these tough, adventurous rowers, are now out on the water, and steaming towards the heart of the Atlantic.

Good luck to all involved.

Ocean Rowing: Katie's On The Water!

A few weeks back I posted a story on Katie Spotz, a 22-year old American woman who was preparing to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. At the time, she was on her way to Senegal, along the West Coast of Africa, where she would begin her epic journey, which officially got underway yesterday when she hit the ocean at last.

Katie expects to be on the water for somewhere between 70-100 days, covering 2480 miles in the process. Her target destination is Guyana, in South America, and if successful, she'll become the youngest person to ever row an ocean and the first American to row from Africa to South America.

Katie is making this journey as a fund raising effort for the Blue Planet Run organization, which is a non-profit foundation that promotes and funds clean water projects around the globe. Blue Planet Run is working hard to achieve their goal of clean drinking water for everyone on Earth, and Katie's efforts will help place a spotlight on those efforts.

For the next three month or so, Katie will be confined to her custom built and designed 19 foot row boat, which includes storage for her supplies and gear, a small cabin for her to escape to the elements, and solar cells for recharging her gadgets so we can track her progress. On her first day out, she covered 44 miles, which is an impressive start to her journey.

Look for more updates on Katie's website and be following her Twitter feed at @katiespotz.

Ocean Rowing: 22-Year Old Attempts Atlantic Crossing

22-year old Katie Spotz is in the final stages of preparing to challenge the Atlantic, in her bid to become the youngest person to ever row across an ocean and the first American to go from Africa to South America by paddle. In the process, she hopes to raise funds for the Blue Planet Run, an organization dedicated to delivering clean drinking water to locations around the globe.

The 2500 mile journey is expected to take somewhere between 70 and 100 days to completed, with Katie facing huge waves and crazy weather on her journey from Dakar, Senegal, on Africa's West Coast, to South America. She'll make the trip in a specially designed, 19-foot row boat, but won't even use a tarp to help shield her from the sun and other elements. The boat has plenty of storage for all of her supplies and comes equipped with solar panels to recharge her communications equipment while at sea.

As of this writing, Katie is ten days from setting off on her journey, and according to the blog on her website, she left for Senegal today. Once she arrives there, she'll spend some time getting her gear and boat prepared before hitting the water. From then on, it'll be just her, the boat, and the Ocean.

For more about Katie, check out the recent interview she conducted, which can be found on video below and be sure to follow her updates on Twitter at @KatieSpotz. Good luck Katie! We'll be following along!

Mike McIntyre talks to Katie Spotz about her trip across the Atlantic, in a row boat

Ocean Rowing: Speaking Engagements For Roz and Sarah

For several months earlier this year we tracked the progress of Roz Savage and Sarah Outen as they both rowed solo across different oceans. Roz tackled the second leg of her trans-Pacific row while Sarah became the first woman to ever row solo across the Indian Ocean. Now, both women are back on dry land and preparing to share their experiences with upcoming speaking engagements. Ironically enough, both of them are speaking on the same evening, but the events are separated by, you guess it, an ocean.

Sarah will be the first to speak by virtue of the event taking place in the U.K. She'll be at The North Wall in Oxford, where for the first time she'll talk about her experiences out on the water. The event gets underway at 7:30 PM on October 19th, and is expected to last roughly two hours. All proceeds from the event will go to support Sarah's charities, namely Arthritis Care and Arthritis Research Campaign. If you're in the area and want to stop by, you can get tickets here.

Also on that Monday, October 19th, Roz will be in Washington D.C., where she'll be giving a lecture at the National Geographic Live! center. Her chat begins at 7:30 PM as well, and tickets are available by clicking here. Roz will be discussing her row across the Atlantic from a few years back, while supporting her new book Row the Atlantic, which hits book stores tomorrow. To find out more about Roz's appearance, click here. She'll be appearing as part of a three-part Quest for Adventure series, which will also include others who prefer to propel themselves around the planet through the use of an oar.

Wish I could make either event. Anyone planning on going?

Racing Across the Atlantic in a Rowboat!

In November of this year, a unique endurance event will kick off from the Canary Islands, when the Atlantic Rowing Race gets underway. Competing teams will set out to row across the Atlantic Ocean, covering 2900 miles in the process, and ending in Antigua in the Caribbean, facing 30 foot waves, dangerous storms, and shark infested waters along the way.

Approximately 10-20 teams are expected to enter the race, but at the moment, only one team from North America has taken on the challenge. The team consists of three men from Montreal - Alok Chowdhury, Robert Idsinga, and Mike Jirasek, who are already training hard and preparing for the race. They hope to complete the race in just three months time, averaging 24 knots per day.

Alok, Robert, and Mike will be undertaking this adventure to raise money for charity. They'll be rowing for the Children's Wish Foundation, a Canadian charity that specializes in making dreams come true for children with high risks health issues.

You can follow the team as they prepare for the race by reading their blog. They are also auctioning off a certificate to receive Lasik surgery to repair eyesight, with 50% of the proceeds going to the Children's Wish Foundation, and the other 50% as a fundraiser for their preparation for the race. The auction is running until the beginning of August, and you can find out more by clicking here. The team is still looking for sponsors to help them reach their goals, and to find out more about those opportunities, and to see the impressive list of sponsors they've already put together, check out their Sponsor Page.

Good luck in the race guys! We'll be following along in the Fall.

Paul Ridley Completes Solo Atlantic Row

According to CNN.com, 25-year old Paul Ridley has completed his solo row across the Atlantic, taking 88 days to make the journey.

According to the story Ridely would row as much as 12 hours per day, as he made his 2950 mile journey across the Atlantic Ocean. Even more amazing, the young man crossed the pond without a support vessel following in his wake, and in the process he became the youngest American to make that journey, and just the third person from the U.S. to do so at all.

Paul rowed in a custom made boat that he and his sister spent $60,000 having built. Back in 2001 their mother passed away from skin cancer, and Ridley dedicated this row to her and to raising funds for cancer research. His website, RowForHope.com, has more information about Paul, his cause, and ways that we can all help out.

Ridley says that he is happy to be home and off the water, and will now take some time to rest up and regain his strength. But he also says that there is a lot to be accomplished yet, and that he'll soon be back to work trying to raise funds and awareness for cancer research.

Congrats Paul! Awesome work. Glad you're home safe and sound.

Richard Branson Attempts Record Atlantic Crossing, Fails

While I was off the grid last week, it seems that Richard Branson set off from New York in an attempt to break the trans-Atlantic crossing record in a 99-foot yacht named the Virgin Money. He had hoped to challenge the current record of 6 days, 17 hours, 39 minutes, 52 seconds. Unfortunately, his hopes were dashed thanks to foul weather.

The attempt was two years in the planning, and the crew of experience sailors snuck out of New York ahead of schedule, in an attempt to beat an incoming storm. But just two days and four hours into the run, the attempt was scrubbed, thanks to 40 foot waves and gale force winds, which damaged the main sale and left the ship floundering in the Atlantic.

On the official Virgin Money website, the latest update reports that the crew was excited about the possibilities of the ships performance, but frustrated with the conditions they were forced to race through. Starting late in the season, they expected it to be a challenging go, but it was even worse than expected. The ship limped into a harbor in Bermuda for repairs last Friday.

No word yet on if they'll give it another shot, but my guess is that they'll regroup and try again next year. After all, what else would Branson do with a big boat like that? I mean, I'm sure it set him back a lot of money, and lord knows he doesn't have enough to spare.