We're the Champs!

	ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS HERALD New Jersey's 1st Official Electronic Newspaper

THE GREAT ATLANTIC CHALLENGE
May 19 2005	by Paul H. Sniffen

In 1896 one of the New York City newspapers offered a $10,000 prize to anyone who could row across the Atlantic Ocean from America to Europe. Two Norwegian American fishermen, George Harbo and Frank Samuelsen, from Atlantic Highlands accepted the challenge. In the spring of 1896 they outfitted their 18 foot wooden skiff named Fox, with provisions for the journey. They left in the spring of 1896 with no idea how long the journey would take. They encountered storms along the way and lost their supplies and equipment, but they were replenished along the way by other ships in mid Ocean.

After 55 days the two men reached land in Europe and news of their success was sent by cable telegraph back to New York.

There was no radio telegraph at that time but a few years later Guigliemo Marconi sent radio telegraph message across the Atlantic, again from Highlands, NJ, not far from where the two fishermen started their voyage.
The fishermen loaded their boat on a steamer and headed back to New York where they would make headlines and collect their $10,000 prize. The prize would be equal to $500,000 in todays economy. The steamboat ran out of coal off the coast of Cape Cod and the Captain ordered all wooden objects burned in the stoker in order to make steam for the remainder of the trip The two fishermen launched their boat over the side of the steamer and rowed back to New York, which was just a few hundred miles away. Much to their dismay when they reached New York and went to the Newspaper there was no prize money and they never did collect a nickel.

On May 26, 2005 four Dutch rowers will attempt to break the 55 day record of the two fishermen. Their boat is a 30 foot fiberglass model that weights a ton before provisioning and 2 tons when loaded. It has watertight compartments and it has three sets of oarlocks so two or three men can row while one or two men sleep. They have all types of radios and navigation equipment that is solar powered. They also have solar powered desalination equipment for making fresh water from sea water. All their food will be freeze dried and can be mixed and eaten with fresh water.
They have dozens of sponsors and a contract for their services for six months. Their journey will be documented for all to see and read about in years to come. They even have a web site on board, www.oceanfours.com They should arrive in Europe at the end of July. We wish them a safe journey.

Departing from Atlantic Highlands, at the same time, will be Oliver Hicks.

Hicks will attempt a solo voyage rowing the same route followed by George Harbo and Frank Samuelsen on their historic 1896 voyage. www.oceanrowing.com

A solo voyage of the route was attempted two years ago, by Ukrainian solo rower, Theodore Rezvoy. Solo Rower