French Rower Fail
A Frenchman planning to row across the Atlantic calls for rescue barely 150 miles into his 3,000-mile journey
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Frenchman Charlie Girard abandoned his attempt to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean just 150 miles into his storied trip. He used a satellite phone to call the Coast Guard for a pick-up not far from his starting point off of Massachusetts’ Cape Cod.
Best part? This was Girard’s second attempt at the feat. Last time, in 2007, the would-be adventurer threw in the towel after only 50 miles of rowing. I guess tripling his distance counts as an improvement, but it’s going take a lot more to come close to beating the 62-day record set by fellow (qualified) Frenchman Emmanuel Coindre in 2004. Here’s footage of the rescue from an extremely patient Mass. Coast Guard:
Besides exhaustion, Girard said his main problem “was mental,” and I’m inclined to agree.
Record-breaking adventures have officially jumped the shark. I’m all for following your bliss, but there can only be so many Roald Amundsens, Edmund Hillarys, and Dean Potters out there, and even those guys get crushed sometimes. Girard maybe had the ambition, but I think it’s fair to say he couldn’t pull the planning or talent end off; after a $15,000 rescue, that’s an expensive lesson to learn (though not for him, sadly).
What do you think of Girard’s failed bid—foolhardy or inspiring? Have you ever dreamed of launching a record-breaking adventure? Let us know in the comments section below.
—Ted Alvarez
Frenchmantrying to row from Cape to France quits
via The Goat