Rowers complete 6 months and 6,000+ miles for a record (photos, video!)

Two British rowers who set out from Japan on May 8, 2009 to be the first to row more than 6,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean, have just rowed under the Golden Gate Bridge and into the record books.

They were greeted by a flotilla of boats, helicopters and well-wishers as they rowed under the bridge shortly before 8:30 a.m. Friday morning.

The two rowers, Mick Dawson and Chris Martin, battled 60 foot waves, electrical and mechanical problems and nearly capsized at least once on the epic 6,000+ mile long journey they called Golden Gate Endeavour. The two rowed in shifts; two hours on and two hours off, 24 hours a day in a specially designed rowboat they named Bojangles.

There is a reunion with family and friends planned at San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club where presumably someone will provide a hot, home-cooked meal--their first in six months.

(First photo is courtesy of John McCrea, the last four photos are courtesy of Duane Franks and we've added a KGO video too)  

        

Comments

[Kurt True]

Six months in a rowboat?! I say take them and their boat to the nearest self service car wash and give 'em a good ten minutes with the soaker brush before you switch to the power rinse setting. But first lock up every woman under the age of 87. And maybe the drag queens too, just to be on the safe side.

[Jrexec]

Illegals... Deport them now, before they marry our women.

[steve broughton]

Him i'm in the UK I know Mick and I bet the first thing on his mind is a few beers and some hot food, I think the 87 year old women are safe, knowing Mick I would say 60 would be the limit.

[Coach D]

We were on board one of the boats that escorted the pair in under the Golden Gate Bridge. They were greeted by a cute girl on a paddle board and handed a couple cold beers by others. San Francisco mayor, Gavin Newsom checked their passports after they docked. So I think they are all covered for now.

[caferay]

Well Done!!
Too bad San Francisco missed its chance to give these two once-in-a-lifetime guys a proper seamen's welcome and a US Naval escort through the Gate. Not line or fleet vessels but flagged launches on each side would have been nice. Maybe a cannon salute from Ft. Point. Coast Guard, too, maybe a fireboat pluming and fluming. These photos make it look like someone dropped a dollar in the water and some passersby spent a couple of minutes trying to spot it.

[homer simpson]

what a peculiar choice of metaphor, caferay. i bet more than a few of the regular party-poopers on this website would probably say that a big seaman's welcome would truly be dropping dollars into the water.

though i agree with you, if i knew about it ahead of time i would have brought my own fireworks! i think there's a website idea somewhere in there.

[Sue from Cornwall]

Great photos! Such a relief to see Mick and Chris are safe and well after 6 months of solid non-stop rowing across the North Pacific. I wish I could have been there to join in the triumphant applause. These two OARsome lads have made history - fantastic!

[rich beckman]

driving over the GG bridge this morning at about 8:00, I saw two helicopters and the Coast Guard's cutter at out Point Bonita, and wondered if somebody fell overboard or got swamped. Nice to know it was a welcome in rather than a search and rescue.
then, coincidentally, I was at the GG Yacht club for lunch and they there were!

[coco]

Well, what a hoity-toity day YOU've had! I've been at work all day.

[tigger]

Those of us who take on endurance activities know there will be no ticker tape parade, no large welcoming parties, no awe struck devotees.

If you want to undertake this sort of endeavor, you have to do it for yourself, for the knowledge that you met the challenge and completed the voyage.

It is enough to look in the mirror and acknowledge you did not fall short.