On the South Orkney Islands, about halfway between their start in Antarctica and the targeted South Georgia Island, Lisa Farthofer and her international crew, who wanted to be the first to row the 1500-kilometer route in a rowboat, had to yesterday to go ashore. Wind gusts of up to 100 kilometers an hour and crests of the waves around nine meters high not only made it difficult for the cabin rowing boat to progress, but ultimately made the undertaking too dangerous. Since a storm front approaching from the west promised even greater disaster, the Icelandic project manager Fiann Paul, who is considered the most experienced ocean rower on the planet, decided to call off the venture.
In the hours before, the crew had already become the plaything of the swell. “Almost like on a surfboard, we rode dozens of waves – some of them for almost a minute,” said Bulgarian Stefan Ivanov.
“Lost” a man
For six days, the crew of six took turns at the three pairs of oars every hour and a half. A rhythm that bothered everyone in the team. “The second day in particular was megazach,” reported Farthofer, “I even fell asleep while rowing.” However, the former world-class rower from Lake Attersee was most concerned about the constant wet conditions and the wind-intensified cold (the last time it felt like minus ten degrees). The tough conditions took their toll: Her US boat colleague Mike Matson became seasick and finally had to disembark on Saturday because of a fever. He was pulled onto the escort boat – which must not be contacted for an entry in the Guinness Book of Records.
Farthofer told OÖN that she was nevertheless taking unforgettable experiences from Antarctica with her: “Penguins accompanied us for a while – that was very sweet.”
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Source: Nachrichten
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
