Posted: Jul 07, 2009 07:51 am EDT
(TheOceans.net) The four UK girls, Sarah Duff, Fiona Waller, Jo Jackson and Elin Haf Davis, crossed the finish line in Mauritius at 18h54 GMT on Monday 06 July 2009. It took them 78 days, 15 hours and 54 minutes to cross the Indian Ocean. They became the first women’s crew to row across this ocean.

The Woodvale press release:

Heavenly Finish for Ocean Angels in the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009
07 Jul 2009 09:56 BST

Four British women made history today by becoming the first ever all female crew to row across the vast, treacherous and unpredictable Indian Ocean by completing the inaugural Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009.

Sarah Duff (26), Fiona Waller (34), Jo Jackson (28) and Elin Haf Davis (32) left Geraldton, Western Australia on 19 April 2009 together with nine other crews, all aiming to row a mammoth 3,132 nautical miles to the beautiful Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.

At 1854GMT on Monday 06th July 2009, these four courageous ladies from London, nicknamed the Ocean Angels, victoriously rowed their 29ft long purposely built ocean rowing boat named ‘Pura Vida’ over the finish line, with an impressive crossing time of 78 days, 15 hours and 54 minutes.

As the only all female crew competing in the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009, the Ocean Angels with three of their four crew members (Sarah, Fiona and Elin) having already successfully rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in 2007, used their experience of ocean rowing, weather and routing to their advantage.

However, when crew member, Sarah Duff was thrown from her rowing seat by a rouge wave just days from the finish, injuring her back and ribs as she fell hard against the side of the boat, the crew were reduced to three, hampering their ability to row against the current in order to make the official race finish line.

Pura Vida crew member Fiona Waller comments: “Having led the fleet for almost half of the crossing, we are disappointed not to have been able to cross the official race finish line to take second place. That said, having crossed the line of longitude that signifies a successful unaided Indian Ocean Rowing Crossing is a fantastic achievement in itself that we are all extremely proud of."

“Being the first female crew to row across the Indian Ocean is a title we are honoured to hold and we hope that our successful crossing will inspire other women to take on such a challenge and compete in ultra-endurance adventures like this”.

By becoming the first all female crew to row the Indian Ocean, the Ocean Angels join a host of record breakers, all making history through their entries in the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009.

Organised by South West based nautical events company, Woodvale Challenge Ltd, the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009 is one in a series of ocean rowing races open to anyone, Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.regardless of age, gender or experience.

Simon Chalk, Managing Director of Woodvale Challenge comments: “Rowing an ocean is never easy but to row two oceans takes courage, commitment and shear determination. The Ocean Angels are a shining example of what’s required and they totally deserve the glory that goes with the accolade of setting their own bit of history”.

Positions 7 July 2009, distance last 24 h, and distance (nm) to finish:

Aud Eamus (Open), Mauritius
Bexhill Trust Challenger (Fours), Mauritius
Pura Vida (Fours), Mauritius
Rowing for Prostrate (Fours), 127 nm to go
Southern Cross (Pairs), 3.26, 970
Flying Ferkins (Pairs), 1.39, 1005

The WoodVale Indian Ocean Rowing Race started April 19, 2009 from Geraldton, Western Australia to Mauritius. According to the IORR it is a distance, as the crew flies of 3132 nautical miles; making it the longest rowing race in the World.

The Indian Ocean has been rowed single-handed/unsupported only twice, first in 1971 by Anders Svedlund. It took the Swedish rower 64 days to complete the journey aboard Roslagena. He completed a crossing from Kalbarri, Western Australia to Diego Suarez, Madagascar (4,313 miles).

In 2003 Brit Simon Chalk completed the solo/unsupported row in 107 days. He set out from Kalbarri, Western Australia, and arrived at Rafael Island (4,027 miles)

“A further successful solo crossing and one double handed crossing of the Indian Ocean followed Simon’s voyage in 2005 and 2007 respectively and the current record for rowing across the Indian Ocean is held by Ukrainian, Paval Rezvoy who rowed from the Cocos Islands, Australia to Mahe in the Seychelles (2,977 miles) in 57 days,” stated the Woodvale Indian Ocean Race organisers.

In 2007 John Williams, continued alone after his team-mate Glenn Edwards was picked up part way through.

On the 28 April 2009 ‘Aud Eamus’, set off from Geraldton, Western Australia and arrived in Mauritius on 25 June in a time of 58 days, 15 hours and 08 minutes. Crewmembers were Angela Madsen (49, USA), Helen Taylor (22, UK), Bernard Fissett (46, Belgium), Brian Flick (23, America), Paul Cannon (39, UK), Doug Tuminello (43, America), Ian Couch (39, UK) and Simon Chalk (36, UK).

The ‘Adu Eamus’ crew also claims a number of other Indian Ocean rowing records that include the first eight man crew, the first paraplegic (Angela Madsen), the first females (Angela Madsen and Helen Taylor) and the first person to row the Indian Ocean twice (Simon Chalk).

The first team of four and the youngest person to row across the Indian Ocean reached Mauritius on 26 June 2009. Brits Phil McCorry (24), his brother Nick McCorry (25), Matt Hellier (20) and Ian Allen (25) left Geraldton, Australia, and made the crossing in 68 days, 19 hours and 40 minutes.

Links to 2009 Indian Ocean Rowing Race:

2009 Woodvale Indian Ocean Rowing Race website

Pairs

Team Oz to Africa: James Thysse and Jamie Facer-Childs; “Southern Cross”

Team MSS: Guy Watts and Andrew Delaney; “Flying Ferkins”

Fours

Team Row4Charity: Phil McCorry, Nick McCorry, Matt Hellier and Ian Allen (all UK); “Bexhill Trust Challenger”

Team Rowing for Prostate: Tom Wigram (UK), Billy Gammon (New Zealand), Mat Hampel (New Zealand) and Pete Staples (UK); “Rowing for Prostate”

Team Ocean Angels: Sarah Duff, Fiona Waller, Jo Jackson, Elin Haf Davis, (all UK); “Pura Vida”

Open class

Team Indian Ocean Eight: Angela Madsen (USA), Helen Taylor (UK), Bernard Fissett (Belgium), Brian Flick (America), Paul Cannon (UK), Doug Tumminello (America), Ian Couch (UK) and Simon Chalk (UK); “Audeamus”

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