Sector ‘No Limits’ Athlete Bruised, Battered

After 11 Capsizes

AMERICAN SOLO ROWER RESCUED IN ATLANTIC

AFTER THRASHING BY HURRICANE DANIELLE

Here is the media advisory for Monday's Press Session for Tori.
Best regards to all of you.
Susan Barnes
Communications West



MEDIA ADVISORY/PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

TO TV News Assignment Editors, Newspaper Editors, Wire Services,
Radio News Assignment Editors, Feature Writers, Photo Desks

WHO Tori Murden, American solo rower, new woman's world record holder for
most days alone at sea.

WHAT Press Session: Tori Murden is available for interviews and photos.
Technical support people will be available for additional commentary.

WHEN Monday, Sept. 14, 9:30 a.m. EDT

WHERE City Hall, Broad and Market Streets, Room 202, Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA -- Tori Murden, a 35-year-old adventurer from Louisville,
Ky.,
meets the press Monday in Philadelphia after spending 85 days alone at sea.
During her solo attempt to row the North Atlantic Ocean without support,
Murden set the world record for spending more days alone at sea than any
other woman rower. She also set the record for the most miles rowed solo by
any American -- man or woman.
Since departing Nags Head, N.C., on June 14, Murden rowed 2,653 nautical
miles. She ended her endeavor on Sept. 7, after a two-day battle with
Hurricane Danielle. Murden was picked up by the Cyprus-registered
container vessel Independent Spirit about 950 nautical miles from Brest,
France – her target destination. If she succeeded in her endeavor, she
would have become the first woman and first American to row solo across an
ocean.
Murden is sponsored by Sector Sport Watches. She is a member of the
Sector
No Limits® Team, an elite group of international athletes who dare test and
transcend the outer limits of human potential. # # # Contact
On-site: Kevin Plagman Mobile 415.215.9459 or 415.215.9460

Press office: Shannon Matus or Susan Barnes
Communications West
Telephone 415.863.7220
Fax 415.621.2907
E-mail comwest@comwest.com

Here is some information regarding Tori's rescue and a few direct quotesreceived from her today.Best regardsSusan Barnes Sector 'No Limits' Athlete Bruised, Battered After 11 Capsizes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---AMERICAN SOLO ROWER RESCUED IN ATLANTIC AFTER THRASHING BY HURRICANE DANIELLE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN –
(Sept. 7, 1998) – American solo rower Tori Murden safely escaped a furious Atlantic Ocean today after international emergency teams pinpointed her position, and asked a merchant vessel to rescue her about 950 miles west of Brest, France.Murden boarded the bulk carrier Independent Spirit about 2 p.m. GMT today,ending her attempt to become the first American and first woman to row across anocean alone and unsupported. Murden had been alone at sea for 85 days sincedeparting Nags Head, N.C., on June 14. Over the last two days, Hurricane Danielle mercilessly battered Murden's23-foot rowboat, the SECTOR NO LIMITSä American Pearl, with 30-fort waves thatcaused 11 capsizes last night. One wave caused the rowboat to be "pitch poled," tumbling Murden around the inside of her small cabin, and causing trauma to theathlete's head and shoulder. The SECTOR NO LIMITSä American Pearl is designed to self-right and self-baleafter capsizing. "I felt like I went 12 rounds with Mike Tyson," the 35-year-old rower calmlytold one organizer via satellite telephone. "My entire body was bruised, and Iwas afraid I broke my shoulder."
     At 8 p.m. GMT today, Murden's specific medical conditions were unknown. However she was comfortable, fully coherent and in good spirits aboard theIndependent Spirit, which is due to arrive the U.S. this weekend. According to various reports, Murden's emergency signal was received at 4:45am GMT today. According to the Press Association in London, an RAF aircraft was dispatched from Scotland and soon spotted Murden "standing aboard her rowingboat." The Falmouth, U.K. coast guard asked the Independent Spirit, a Cypressregistered bulk carrier on route to Philadelphia, to change course to answer thedistress signal.The vessel arrived at Murden's position early afternoon today (GMT). Seaconditions were reported to be rough with gale force six winds and seas to 12feet. Attempts to salvage the rowboat failed due to sea conditions. One week ago, Hurricane Bonnie, by then downgraded to a tropical low, passedwithin 150 miles of the SECTOR NO LIMITSä American Pearl. Bonnie's high seascaused Murden to capsize at least twice. But Hurricane Danielle picked up intensity because the storm never hit land. National Weather Service meteorologists in the U.S. had predicted Daniellewould strike Tori with winds of 40-50 knots and 20-30-foot seas. Murden was just five weeks, or 950 nautical miles from Brest. France – hertarget destination. For 85 days she rowed more than 2,600 nautical miles,completing two-thirds of the projected journey.
     Murden is sponsored by Sector Sport Watches, as part of the company's "No Limits" philosophy. Providing ongoing support and technical assistance to extreme athletes and adventurers worldwide, Sector encourages individuals who dare test the outer limits of human endurance.
     # # #07 September 1998Contact: Kevin Plagman, Shannon Matus or Susan Barnes Communications West                     1426 Eighteenth Street, San Francisco, Calif. 94107
                  Telephone: 415-863-7220 Fax: 415-621-2907
                  E-mail: kplagman@comwest.com smatus@comwest.com sbarnes@comwest.com

Direct Quotes From Tori Murden5 p.m. GMT, 08 September 1998

     I am doing just fine. I was knocked round quite of bit. I have a knock on myhead and was disoriented and nauseous. I tore a rotator cuff in my rightshoulder, but it will heal.

     The first day of Danielle, the 5th, was horrific. I capsized 11 times over a 12to 14 hour period. Up to then I capsized only three times before, once in theGulf, once at about the halfway point and once during Bonnie.The next day, the 6th was significantly calmer. I capsized once that day. But as the front passed, the waves were steep and that evening I capsized three moretimes. The last capsize before I decided to end the row, I was pitch poled. The boat went end over end. The sea anchor was tangled over the bow. I wasconvinced I would die.

     After I boarded the Independent Spirit, I reviewed a weather map. A force 10grade gale was heading straight at us in 10 hours and I realized I would notsurvive another storm. I realized it was not my time.I will not say 'no' I will not go try again. But it's a lot to ask of myfriends.

# # #08 September 1998KP/bmtContact: Kevin Plagman, Shannon Matus or Susan Barnes Communications West1426 Eighteenth Street, San Francisco, Calif. 94107 Telephone: 415-863-7220 Fax: 415-621-2907E-mail: smatus@comwest.com sbarnes@comwest.com

NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN – (Sept. 7, 1998) – American solo rower Tori Murden safely escaped a furious Atlantic Ocean today after international emergency teams pinpointed her position, and asked a merchant vessel to rescue her about 950 miles west of Brest, France.

Murden boarded the bulk carrier Independent Spirit about 2 p.m. GMT today, ending her attempt to become the first American and first woman to row across an ocean alone and unsupported. Murden had been alone at sea for 85 days since departing Nags Head, N.C., on June 14.

Over the last two days, Hurricane Danielle mercilessly battered Murden’s 23-foot rowboat, the sector no limits™ American Pearl, with 30-foot waves that caused 11 capsizes last night. One wave caused the rowboat to be "pitch poled," tumbling Murden around the inside of her small cabin, and causing trauma to the athlete’s head and shoulder.

The sector no limits™ American Pearl is designed to self-right and self-bale after capsizing.

"I felt like I went 12 rounds with Mike Tyson," the 35-year-old rower calmly told one organizer via satellite telephone. "My entire body was bruised, and I was afraid I broke my shoulder."

At 8 p.m. GMT today, Murden’s specific medical conditions were unknown. However she was comfortable, fully coherent and in good spirits aboard the Independent Spirit, which is due to arrive the U.S. this weekend.

According to various reports, Murden’s emergency signal was received at 4:45 a.m. GMT today. According to the Press Association in London, an RAF aircraft was dispatched from Scotland and soon spotted Murden "standing aboard her rowing boat." The Falmouth, U.K. coast guard asked the Independent Spirit, a Cypress registered bulk carrier on route to Philadelphia, to change course to answer the distress signal.

The vessel arrived Murden’s position early afternoon today (GMT). Sea conditions were reported to be rough with gale force six winds and seas to 12 feet. Attempts to salvage the rowboat failed due to sea conditions.

One week ago, Hurricane Bonnie, by then downgraded to a tropical low, passed within 150 miles of the sector no limits™ American Pearl. Bonnie’s high seas caused Murden to capsize at least twice.

But Hurricane Danielle picked up intensity because the storm never hit land. National Weather Service meteorologists in the U.S. had predicted Danielle would strike Tori with winds of 40-50 knots and 20-30-foot seas.

Murden was just five weeks, or 950 nautical miles from Brest, France – her target destination. For 85 days she rowed more than 2,600 nautical miles, completing two-thirds of the projected journey.

Murden is sponsored by Sector Sport Watches, as part of the company’s "No Limits" philosophy. Providing ongoing support and technical assistance to extreme athletes and adventurers worldwide, Sector encourages individuals who dare test the outer limits of human endurance.