Ocean rower Mick's debrief - "I never gave up"
Sep 1, 2004 10: 33 EST
Golden Gate rower Mick Dawson was rescued August 22 after his row boat had capsized. Mick left Choshi, Japan May 6th 2004 in his second attempt to reach Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco, CA, USA.
His sat phone stopped working and his home team didn't hear from him in a month. Until a message from Mick was delivered through a skipper named Shakhid from a passing Bangladeshi vessel. A few weeks later Mick was saved by the US Coast Guard. Mick wrote up a report for the Ocean Rowing Society:
"As I am sure you all by now know, my voyage across the North Pacific was sadly brought to a premature end due to a capsize on 22nd of August. I am sorry not to have been able to update you before now but this has not been possible.
I am very grateful to have survived what was an incredibly dangerous situation but at the same time bitterly disappointed not to have been able to complete for you all the most amazing trip you could imagine.
I had many plans for the future the other side of a successful crossing to San Francisco, which had finally seemed within reach as I was approaching the last third of the crossing, and I hope that some of them will be still achievable despite this disappointing conclusion.
Nothing about the trip at any time no matter how tough or impossible it sometimes seemed to be changed my opinion that this is one of the last great adventures on the planet, nor my belief that I could complete it, and my only regret is that I had to leave behind the 50 or 60 hours of incredible video footage in the upturned hull of Mrs D.
Beyond that I can only repeat my thanks for the superb professionalism of the United States Coast guard and the Master of Hanjin Philadelphia, Captain Peter Winter and his crew, without who's assistance I would simply not now be here. Despite the disappointing ending I hope I demonstrated by my actions throughout the crossing that I was worthy of your support and the immense privilege of making this attempt,
Best wishes,
Mick Dawson.
PS. Throughout the voyage there was a song I discovered on the Discs Steve compiled that pulled me through some of the tough times on route (Can you believe not Dean Martin or The Beautiful South). It was a song by Divine Comedy Called appropriately "Charmed life".
The lyrics as I remember them go something like:
Sometimes life is like being afloat on a raging sea in a little row boat
with the waves just trying to wash you over board.
But if you take you chances and ride your luck and never, never, never,
never, never give up,
those waves will see you to a friendly shore.
More than ever this seems to have relevance now and I hope by my presence now you can all see that I "never" did give up."
|
|
Feature Stories |
|
Latest News |
more news |
 |
Young sailor missing outside of Trinidad
Full Story
|
 |
Minoru Saito: Oldest around the world update
Full Story
|
 |
A new world speed sailing record: Ellen made it!
Full Story
|
 |
Vendee Globe 2005 Finish newsflash
Full Story
|
 |
Maud Fontenoy - another adventure has begun
Full Story
|
 |
Fedor Konyukhov: Declines Argos replacement on unassisted sail
Full Story
|
|
|
| Fedor - less than a week to go! Jun 3, 2005 | | Saito San - closing in on home and record! Jun 2, 2005 | | Atlantic Four: And they are off! Jun 1, 2005 | | Ollie - is anybody out there? May 31, 2005 | | ExplorersWeb Week in Review May 30, 2005 | | And they are off! May 27, 2005 | | Ellen gives transatlantic record a second battle May 27, 2005 | | Vagabond update - Polar bears, 200 candles and ice melting in Inglefieldbukta May 26, 2005 | | ExWeb interview - Atlantic Four: "It was all about persuading our wives" May 25, 2005 | | Iridium: "Invalid battery - matches found, 0" May 24, 2005 |
|
|
|
