Advertisement

Rowing for Veterans


Angela Madsen shows off her Paralympic medal and boat that will carry her across the Pacific in June. Photo PNO | Christopher DiVirgilio

Disabled veteran set sail on a 2,300 mile ocean journey

UPDATE: June 17, 2013-

Sadly, Angela Madsen was pulled from her boat, The Spirit of Orlando by the U.S. Coast Guard after high seas and gale force winds made it impossible to continue rowing. She suffered some bumps and bruises and may require knee surgery from injuries sustained during the storm.

She was flown to Santa Barber where she was reunited with friends and family. Her boat is adrift off of Point Conception, 90 miles off the California coast. PN Online will bring you more information as we learn more.

————————————————————————————————————

Former U.S. Marine and Paralympic medalist Angela Madsen will test her resolve and endurance when she sets off from the California coast on a 2,300 mile solo rowing journey across the Pacific Ocean to honor military servicemen and women.

Madsen’s ocean voyage begins June 8 and will take her to the Hawaiian shore of Honolulu. Madsen will skipper the 19 foot vessel alone powered by nothing more than her oars.

While this is not Madsen’s first ocean voyage she is taking every precaution to make this journey a success, starting with a new boat. And, as one might imagine, it takes a specially designed craft to help keep its occupant safe and ward off the elements.

The boat has one rowing position located in the central cockpit area, a small cabin in the stern that provides shelter for sleeping and electrical/navigation equipment, and a watertight storage area in the bow.

If you’re curious how Madsen will manage during her ocean crossing, she explains that the boat is specially equipped with various features to help sustain her during the voyage.

Electrical power is provided by solar panels located on the roof of the aft cabin, which feed two large batteries and powers the Global Position System (GPS), water desalinator system, VHF radio, radar transponder, lights, and sockets for recharging smart devices and recording/video batteries.
 The electrical system is designed with redundant systems to eliminate single point failures. One of the more comforting features, to us anyway, is the boat’s unique ability to “right” itself in the event of a capsize.

For more information on Madsen’s journey, visit RowOfLife online.

To track her position to Hawaii, visit Iridium Everywhere

 

Angela Madsen at Sea

 

 

error: Content is protected !!
Skip to content