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PRESS RELEASE - Heavenly Finish for Ocean Angels in the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009
Four British women made history today by becoming the first ever all female crew to row across the vast, treacherous and unpredictable Indian Ocean by completing the inaugural Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009.
Sarah Duff (26), Fiona Waller (34), Jo Jackson (28) and Elin Haf Davis (32) left Geraldton, Western Australia on 19 April 2009 together with nine other crews, all aiming to row a mammoth 3,132 nautical miles to the beautiful Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. At 1854GMT on Monday 06th July 2009, these four courageous ladies from London, nicknamed the Ocean Angels, victoriously rowed their 29ft long purposely built ocean rowing boat named ‘Pura Vida’ over the finish line, with an impressive crossing time of 78 days, 15 hours and 54 minutes.
As the only all female crew competing in the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009, the Ocean Angels with three of their four crew members (Sarah, Fiona and Elin) having already successfully rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in 2007, used their experience of ocean rowing, weather and routing to their advantage. However, when crew member, Sarah Duff was thrown from her rowing seat by a rouge wave just days from the finish, injuring her back and ribs as she fell hard against the side of the boat, the crew were reduced to three, hampering their ability to row against the current in order to make the official race finish line.
Pura Vida crew member Fiona Waller comments: “Having led the fleet for almost half of the crossing, we are disappointed not to have been able to cross the official race finish line to take second place. That said, having crossed the line of longitude that signifies a successful unaided Indian Ocean Rowing Crossing is a fantastic achievement in itself that we are all extremely proud of.
“Being the first female crew to row across the Indian Ocean is a title we are honored to hold and we hope that our successful crossing will inspire other women to take on such a challenge and compete in ultra-endurance adventures like this”.
By becoming the first all female crew to row the Indian Ocean, the Ocean Angels join a host of record breakers, all making history through their entries in the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009. Organised by South West based nautical events company, Woodvale Challenge Ltd, the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009 is one in a series of ocean rowing races open to anyone, regardless of age, gender or experience.
Simon Chalk, Chairman of Woodvale Challenge comments: “Rowing an ocean is never easy but to row two oceans takes courage, commitment and shear determination. The Ocean Angels are a shining example of what’s required and they totally deserve the glory that goes with the accolade of setting their own bit of history”.