Woman sets out to row across Pacific
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-13 15:12

A 26-year-old French woman set out in a row boat Wednesday on a 4,900-mile solo voyage to Polynesia, hoping to trace Thor Heyerdahl's epic Pacific crossing six decades ago aboard the balsa raft Kon-Tiki.

"I'm leaving, a small woman with a little boat," Maud Fontenoy told reporters as she prepared to embark from Lima's port of Callao.

France's Maud Fontenoy rows after departing from Port of Callao, Peru on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2005. Fontenoy will attempt rowing from Callao, Peru to French Polynesia some 5,000 miles across the Pacific. [AP]

In 1947, Heyerdahl and his team sailed a primitive sail raft from Peru to Polynesia in 101 days, seeking to prove Heyerdahl's theory that the South Sea Islands were settled by ancient mariners from South America — not Southeast Asia, as prevailing theory maintains.

French oarswoman Maud Fontenoy poses in her rowing boat 'Oceor' in Lima, prior to her departure across the Pacific. Fontenoy is aiming to become the first woman to cross the Pacific alone in a rowing boat.[AFP]

In October 2003, she rowed 117 days in crossing the Atlantic Ocean from west to east, from Canada to Spain, joining the ranks of seven male rowers who accomplished the trip before her.

"I know I'm going to have different problems, big storms and loneliness," she said. "But you know the victory will be bigger since it was difficult at the beginning."

"I'm going to put my hand in the ocean to touch a dolphin and meet whales and be in total harmony with nature," she said. "I'm looking for a different way of living, a simple life. Just me and the ocean."

She said she expected her journey to take five months. Her vessel, the Oceor, is about 23 feet long, with a sliding seat and oars in the middle and small cabins at either end. It is equipped with dried food and two water purifiers — one manual and the other powered by a solar panel, she said.

Fontenoy said she has a satellite phone and geographical positioning locator and beacon to summon help if she runs into trouble in her unaccompanied trip.

Close

Today's Top News     Top World News
UK sees China arms embargo lifted before July         Call for official talks on charter flights rejected         Tete-a-tete improves China-US military ties         China, Portugal sign seven pacts         US ends fruitless Iraq weapons hunt         3G mobile go-ahead scheduled for 2005	US ends fruitless Iraq weapons hunt       Vietnam confirms fourth bird flu death       Powell sees troops returning this year       NASA launches comet-smashing spacecraft       S.Korea's Roh sees nuclear talks when bush team set       US, UN want Jakarta to clarify aid restrictions