Hams Help Solo Atlantic Rower

December 8, 1999

NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 8, 1999--Hams in Barbados and on the high seas assisted solo Atlantic rower Diana Hoff last month.

Hoff, an eye doctor from Scotland, and Tori Murden, a lawyer from Kentucky, both left Tenerife in the Canary Islands September 13 in an attempt to be the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic to Barbados. Murden, 36, in her boat American Pearl arrived in Guadeloupe on December 3--the first woman and the first American to complete the solo row. Hoff, 55, is still under way in her 22-foot boat Star Atlantic II, with some 800 miles to go (as of December 6) on the approximately 3000-mile transatlantic journey. Early this year, Hoff's daughter Elisabeth failed in her attempt to make the solo crossing in a similar vessel.

On November 12 and still 1000 miles from her goal, bad weather, wind and sea conditions forced Hoff to put out her sea anchor and remain almost stationary. Hoff's husband, Stein, in Norway sent her position to Trudi Smyth, 8P6QM, who runs the Transatlantic Maritime Mobile Net. 8P6QM relayed the information to Geoff Green, G3ZNV/mm, who was crossing the Atlantic aboard the 617-foot luxury MSY Wind Surf, also bound for Barbados.

By November 22, Wind Surf was in position to rendezvous with the still-marooned Hoff. "Despite heavy swell conditions a boat was lowered from Wind Surf and a line established with Diana to enable her to take on fresh supplies, also a replacement 'world radio' and cassette player, together with Christmas greetings, papers and books," Green recounted.

Diana Hoff hauls in the line and the two containers bringing welcome supplies and an unexpected delivery of Christmas mail.

Green said that following an emotional farewell, Wind Surf hoisted her 26,000 square feet of sail and continued under way, wishing Diana and Star Atlantic II "every success and Godspeed" in her quest.

"It certainly was an experience meeting up with her in mid-Atlantic," he said.

Hoff sent a congratulatory message to Murden on being the first woman ever to complete a successful solo ocean row. "If anybody deserves this honour it is you, who last year braved the tough Northern route and was attacked by hurricane Danielle, yet came back to try again, this time also with a brush with Hurricane Lenny," she said. "I admit to being a bit jealous, not because you were faster than me, which we expected, but that with all the delay due to Lenny, I still have a long way to the comforts of land, so hope for some good trades for me! Think of me eating my freeze-dried Christmas dinner, I will raise my glass to you!" Hoff concluded.

After more than two months alone at sea in her boat Star Atlantic II, Diana Hoff--looking incredibly fit and well--waves to greet her mid-Atlantic visitors. Her boat displays the flag of Scotland.

For more information on Hoff's transatlantic progress, visit http://www.oceanrowing.com. This site contains links to other sites with updated information on Hoff's journey.--Geoff Green, G3ZNV

The maritime mobile QSL card of Geoff Green, G3ZNV (also known as VS6DA [VR2DA] and VK6XB). [Brenda Trainor].

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