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Other Water Sports - 29. July 2013.

Alone in the Pacific-Solo woman to row 2,400 miles from California to Hawaii

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On 7 June 2014, Elsa Hammond will depart from Monterey Bay, California to row at least 2,400 miles across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. Alone in a 24 foot rowing boat for up to three months, she will be subject to storms, seasickness and the psychological effects of so much time in total isolation. Along the way she will encounter diverse sea life, pollution, huge waves, calm sunsets, and other experiences unique to rowing thousands of miles alone across open ocean.

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Elsa is competing in the Great Pacific Race 2014: the inaugural rowing race in the Pacific Ocean organised by New Ocean Wave. Some may be familiar with the Atlantic rowing race, which runs each winter between La Gomera and Antigua. The Great Pacific Race is similar, but is the first ocean rowing race to attempt to cross part of the largest ocean in the world, and is therefore a big step forward in ocean rowing. There are no engines or sails involved in the race – instead, crews rely on their own muscle to propel their boats 2400 miles to Hawaii. New Ocean Wave have said that, “due to advances in on-board technology, boat design and materials, race organizers expect that most of the 24ft long, 6ft wide boats participating will break the route’s current world record of 64 days, set in 1997.” However, solo rowers like Elsa may well take up to 100 days to complete the race, depending on weather and conditions. The boats are ruggedly built to withstand the conditions that they will face in the Pacific, and will self-right in the event of capsize. Living conditions are basic: the toilet is a bucket, and drinking water is desalinated seawater. Elsa is currently the only female solo entrant from the UK.

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Elsa is rowing in aid of the Plastic Oceans Foundation, an amazing charity that is tackling plastic pollution in our oceans. It is a UK based charity with international reach, and works to raise awareness of plastic pollution through film, education and social media. The race will take Elsa just south of the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’, the most notorious example of concentrated plastic pollution, and Elsa is keen to raise awareness of this issue through her blog and updates during the row.

An ocean row is expensive to undertake, but it is also a hugely exciting event to get involved with on every level. Elsa is looking for sponsorship from businesses of all sizes, and can offer an great range of opportunities in return. Please get in contact to discuss sponsorship/publicity packages, or visit her website: www.elsahammond.co.uk. She is also interested to hear from individuals who want to get involved with supporting and promoting the campaign. Please contact Elsa or visit her Indiegogo campaign: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pacific-solo-row/x/3475047?c=activity.

Elsa is available to speak to UK schools, businesses and other groups about the challenge ahead and the cause behind it. Please contact her to discuss further.

 

About Elsa

 

Elsa was born with a club foot, and has had multiple operations on it - the first when she was only months old. Having spent so much time in plaster when she was young made Elsa determined not to let this hold her back. She has a history of adventurous expeditions, including unicycling across England in 2004. The Great Pacific Race is by the far the biggest challenge that she has yet undertaken, and she will spend the next year preparing her body and mind for the physical exertions and isolation of the row, as well as making practical preparations.

CONTACT:

Mobile: 07960 302 561
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ElsaAHammond

Website: www.elsahammond.co.uk

Sponsorship: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pacific-solo-row/x/3475047?c=activity

 

 

On 7 June 2014, Elsa Hammond will depart from Monterey Bay, California to row at least 2,400 miles across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. Alone in a 24 foot rowing boat for up to three months, she will be subject to storms, seasickness and the psychological effects of so much time in total isolation. Along the way she will encounter diverse sea life, pollution, huge waves, calm sunsets, and other experiences unique to rowing thousands of miles alone across open ocean.

Elsa is competing in the Great Pacific Race 2014: the inaugural rowing race in the Pacific Ocean organised by New Ocean Wave. Some may be familiar with the Atlantic rowing race, which runs each winter between La Gomera and Antigua. The Great Pacific Race is similar, but is the first ocean rowing race to attempt to cross part of the largest ocean in the world, and is therefore a big step forward in ocean rowing. There are no engines or sails involved in the race – instead, crews rely on their own muscle to propel their boats 2400 miles to Hawaii. New Ocean Wave have said that, “due to advances in on-board technology, boat design and materials, race organizers expect that most of the 24ft long, 6ft wide boats participating will break the route’s current world record of 64 days, set in 1997.” However, solo rowers like Elsa may well take up to 100 days to complete the race, depending on weather and conditions. The boats are ruggedly built to withstand the conditions that they will face in the Pacific, and will self-right in the event of capsize. Living conditions are basic: the toilet is a bucket, and drinking water is desalinated seawater. Elsa is currently the only female solo entrant from the UK.

Elsa is rowing in aid of the Plastic Oceans Foundation, an amazing charity that is tackling plastic pollution in our oceans. It is a UK based charity with international reach, and works to raise awareness of plastic pollution through film, education and social media. The race will take Elsa just south of the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’, the most notorious example of concentrated plastic pollution, and Elsa is keen to raise awareness of this issue through her blog and updates during the row.

An ocean row is expensive to undertake, but it is also a hugely exciting event to get involved with on every level. Elsa is looking for sponsorship from businesses of all sizes, and can offer an great range of opportunities in return. Please get in contact to discuss sponsorship/publicity packages, or visit her website: www.elsahammond.co.uk. She is also interested to hear from individuals who want to get involved with supporting and promoting the campaign. Please contact Elsa or visit her Indiegogo campaign: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pacific-solo-row/x/3475047?c=activity.

Elsa is available to speak to UK schools, businesses and other groups about the challenge ahead and the cause behind it. Please contact her to discuss further.

 

About Elsa

 

Elsa was born with a club foot, and has had multiple operations on it - the first when she was only months old. Having spent so much time in plaster when she was young made Elsa determined not to let this hold her back. She has a history of adventurous expeditions, including unicycling across England in 2004. The Great Pacific Race is by the far the biggest challenge that she has yet undertaken, and she will spend the next year preparing her body and mind for the physical exertions and isolation of the row, as well as making practical preparations.

CONTACT:

Mobile: 07960 302 561
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ElsaAHammond

Website: www.elsahammond.co.uk

Sponsorship: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pacific-solo-row/x/3475047?c=activity

 


 
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