Ocean Rowing
Ocean rowing involves crossing entire oceans in a rowboat. It is one type of Coastal Rowing. Initially, these races were historical adventure challenges, achieving a crossing for the first time with simple boats lacking modern technology. The first recorded ocean crossing was by US Norwegian immigrants George Harbo and Gabriel Samuelson, who crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1896, taking 55 days. Nowadays there are ocean rowing races, with multiple boats racing across oceans and other large bodies of water. There are races across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
The boats can be designed for solo or pairs, fours or more. The boats, usually custom-built, need to withstand very rough ocean conditions and be able to store a large amount of supplies for the long journeys. Rowers often have to endure long periods at sea with help often many days if not weeks away. The challenge is especially acute for solo rowers.
ocean rowing is a lonely affairSimilar Sports
- Coastal (Offshore) Rowing — a type of rowing performed on open water, requiring wider and more robust boats than those used on rivers and lakes.
- Surfboat Rowing — a team of riders compete using surfboats on a course out and back through the ocean surf.
- Beach Sprint Rowing — short rowing race in the open water also involving a beach sprint.
- Sweep Rowing — each rower has just one oar which is maneuvered with both hands to propel the boat.
- Indoor Rowing — competitions performed on a rowing machine that simulates the on water action.
Related Pages
- About the types of Rowing — a sport in which competitors propel a boat using oars.
- About Paddling Sports
- Complete list of sports
- The Encyclopedia of Sports
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