Information in this article, originally published August 22, has been corrected. A previous version of this story contained an error. Due to an Associated Press error, the identify of two of the four Seattle men who rowed across the Atlantic Ocean were transposed in a photo caption. The caption should have read, from left: Jordan Hanssen, Brad Vickers, Dylan LeValley and Greg Spooner. Two other errors were in the accompanying article: Vickers and LeValley are now 23; while the world record for rowing across the Atlantic is held by a Norwegian duo, not Dutch, accomplished in 1896.
Just winning a rowboat race from New York Harbor across the Atlantic Ocean to England — nearly 3,000 nautical miles — wasn't enough for four twentysomething Seattle men. After nearly 69 days at sea, they decided to push ahead in their 29-foot rowboat and set a record.
So with two-month-long beards and big smiles, the Seattle quartet — Jordan Hanssen, 24; Dylan LeValley, 23; Greg Spooner, 26; and Brad Vickers, 23 — arrived in Falmouth, England, on Sunday evening as the first American team to row across the North Atlantic unaided, from the U.S. mainland to the British mainland. In all, it took nearly 71 days to cover the distance, which is a point-to-point 2,863 nautical miles. However, they didn't row as the crow flies, having been knocked around by wind and waves.
A large crowd greeted the Seattle crew in Falmouth, bringing the men gifts of Cornish pastries, cream teas, beer, fruit and brownies — a treat after the delicacies of rehydrated expedition food for the last 2 ½ months.
The race was expected to cost $300,000, and the team hoped to raise a matching $300,000 for the American Lung Association in the effort. Backers can still donate through the team's Web site, www.oarnorthwest.com.
Their race from New York Harbor to Bishop's Rock was won in 68 days, 23 hours and 18 minutes. It took them 48 hours more to push on to the mainland.
Only one other four-man team has rowed mainland to mainland, that of a Dutch crew in 2005, accomplished in 60 days, 16 hours and 19 minutes. The world record is by a Norwegian duo who reportedly did it in 55 days in 1896.
Print
PREV
Print
Back to top