In 2009 Chris Martin (Director of New Ocean Wave) and Mick Dawson became the first team to row across the North Pacific Ocean from Choshi, Japan to San Francisco. Using footage they shot during their epic journey and presented by James Cracknell, DiscoveryUK bring you “Rowing the Pacific” the documetary of Chris and Mick’s amazing journey.
The first airing is on DiscoveryUK May 10 2012 at 9pm.
Following on from him record breaking double handed row across the North Pacific , Chris Martin has now dedicated himself to launching the Pacific Rowing Race 2014. The event operated by New Ocean Wave Ltd will start in Monterey bay, California and finish in Hawaii over 2100 nautical miles.
Using rugged purpose-built ocean rowing boats, governed by a set of event rules and a mandatory equipment list to ensure a safe and level playing field, teams will compete for the highest accolade – to be the first to reach the finish line in the quickest possible time. For some just completing the event is the challenge and we are committed to helping every crew equally to achieve a safe ocean passage.
Success in an event of this scale requires a combination of skills including teamwork, navigational know-how, weather and routing skills, physical ability and mental strength, together with an element of luck. With a mix of these skills, together with willpower and determination, anyone can achieve the unbelievable. We want you to be in one of those boats. You don’t have to be a rower to row an ocean, but you’ll need to learn how to. Make no mistakes, rowing an ocean is a serious mental and physical challenge but, with the right training to gain experience and knowledge, as well as our support on the water the risks can be managed, to make the amazing achievement of rowing an ocean, as safe as possible.
Are you interested in rowing an ocean?
Would you like to take part in this amazing event?
Then get in touch now
www.newoceanwave.com
I am happy to report that despite the Earthquakes and Tsunami that hit Japan a few weeks ago we have received word from our friends in Choshi that there was, amazingly, no loss of life.
The marina clubhouse was battered inside and out by 2m of water and boats were washed ashore as well as out to sea. Several landing stages have been destroyed and the last boat to leave us before we crossed the North Pacific in 2009 was washed onto the nearby road.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan and especially Choshi as they rebuild what is an exceptionally special place for both myself and Mick.
We’re pleased to announce the first in a new series of regular adventure speaker evenings hosted in Central London. The first evening is on 10th February 2011 hosted at the George, The Strand in the function room upstairs. The event will begin with a scramble for the best seats and the bar from 7pm and the first speech will start at 7.30pm.
We’ll hear from adventurers about their experiences in the field. We’ll hear first-hand about what it takes to spend 189 record setting days rowing across the North Pacific Ocean, how to track down rare animals in the Amazon and we’ll be catching up LIVE with a 16 man human powered boat as they attempt to break the current world record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean. All this and more!
Tickets are £10 on the door or only £8 in advance. With only a limited number of tickets available buying a ticket in advance ensures your seat for the evening.
Go to the Unlimited Adventures website for more details and to buy tickets in advance. You can also join the facebook group
I’ve just found out that our epic row has just been validated by Gunness World Records (GWR). They even cut our time down by a few minutes! We’re on page 118 and it says…
“PACIFIC OCEAN
Mick Dawson and Chris Martin (UK) were the first team to row the Pacific Ocean (west to east). They made the journey from Choshi, Japan, to the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California, USA, aboard their craft Bojangles in 189 days 10 hr 39 min from 8 May 2009 to 13 November 2009.”
Wooo Hooo
That’s certainly one childhood dream ticked off the list!
Thanks to the ORS who sent Guinness a letter before we were even back in the UK.
Over the next week (9th to 17th July) Chris and 7 other friends will be cycling over 1100km from Paris to Barcelona including the daunting prospect of making it over the Pyrenees. Most of the cyclists are Old Hamptonians and so the team jersey’s are yellow and black.
Unlimited Adventures have organised the cycle from branded cycling kit, accomodation and a nifty tracking device to provide updates on the team’s position throughout the week. Keep in touch with Chris and the rest of the team at www.unlimitedadventures.co.uk
As the anniversary of the start of the Golden Gate Endeavour approaches I’ve been thinking back to everything that has happened in the last 6 months since getting back and I still can’t believe we were out in the North Pacific for quite so long. 189 days is a very, very long time. Odd bits of media continue to come in. Last month we were featured in Rowing & Regatta magazine. I was honoured to be given the Runnymede medal for special achievement in sport at the Runnymede Sports Awards and Mick was the guest of honour at Boston United football ground at the weekend. It seems strange that a year ago I was busy packing my bag and storage room the day before we flew to Japan.
Of course if you live in or near San Francisco (or you’re just stuck in California thanks to the Icelandic ash cloud) then why not go and take a look at Bojangles in the San Francisco Maritime Museum. Here are a few shots of her looking much smaller than I remember her being.
Well everyone, here it is. The much awaited teaser / trailer for the film that Mick and I hope very much will be produced later this year. Please check out the new website for the film www.189days.com but to watch the trailer on YouTube please click here to view.
More details soon.
Oh and you can also watch the video of our BBC interview when we landed at Heathrow. Click here to view.
Mick’s been busy in San Francisco ahead of tomorrow’s presentation at San Francisco’s Maritime National Historical Park. Listen to an interview with Mick by Peter Finch of KFOG by clicking here. Or you can download it by clicking here.
Would you like to see the boat (Bojangles) that Mick and Chris rowed across the North Pacific Ocean?
Would you like to see some of the video that they took on route?
Would you like to meet Mick Dawson and have all your questions about what it takes to row across the North Pacific Ocean answered?
Of course you would. Mick will be presenting the premier of the film trailer and talking about his experiences of the North Pacific Ocean at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park at the Bath House Building on the 18th February at 19.30 and best of all it’s free.
If you’re in the area please do come down and say hello. Bojangles is on exhibit at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park so even if you can’t make this event you can still see the boat and find out more about the journey.
Click here for directions and here to view the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park’s website.
