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I made it! I made it! It's magnificent!!!
20:13 p.m. EDT Oct 9, 2003
Early this morning of October 9 at 04.00 local time Maud set foot on Spanish turf. Last time she touched land was on June 13 in Canada; 117 days ago. Today, Maud Fontenoy became the first woman to row across the Atlantic ocean West to East.
She had a big breakfast and then sat in a car with her dad and drove off home - to France, the boat "Pilot" in tow. Jean-Christophe talked on the phone with her yesterday, just as she was closing in, and she laughed out loud: "I'm just crossing the finishing line - I've won! I've won! I've won - it's magnificient!!!"
She has been drinking sea water, fought off sharks, and tumbled in 30 feet waves. Only one week back she was caught up in endless circles in the North Atlantic. Cargo ships brushed pass her like giant, frightening ghosts in the night. Injured and badly beaten she pushed hard towards east, but the strong wind and the waves took her south without mercy. She arrived at the rocky coast in agitated seas and darkness, where not even the tow ship would go out to get her.
But she never gave up and she stole the heart of Amazon kings and Polar veterans alike. A Prince paid her a visit when all hope was out and dropped fresh water by her boat.
At ExplorersWeb we have recieved countless mails from hard core adventurers declaring their love for this brave little girl. Her fighting spirit, her romantic messages in the midst of brutal storms and her relentless will not to give up proved more alluring than anything. So there you have it ladies - drop the nail polish and start rowing!
Check out new pics of Maud's arrival on her website.
French rower Maud Fontenoy set out from St. Pierre et Miquelon, Canada on June 13 in an attempt to become the first woman to row across the Atlantic West to East.
Note! Maud actually rowed from France to Spain! Maud departed from St Pierre et Miquelon which is situated just off the coast of Canada, but is in fact part of France.
Image courtesy of
Jacques Vapillon, www.maudfontenoy.free.fr
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