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Pacific Ocean Row
12:22 p.m. EST Mar 25, 2004
Mike Dawson, 39, will attempt something that only a small handful of people have done before. He will row west to east across the Pacific Ocean. In spring 2004 Mick Dawson will leave Japan, alone, in a state of the art rowing boat. 4 - 6 months later he will have traveled almost 6000 miles and be rowing under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Only Gerard d’Aboville has succeeded in this traverse. Gerard left Japan in July of 1991 and arrived in Washington State 134 days later. Four others have succeeded going in the opposite direction, east to west. A small handful of rowers have been unsuccessful, including Mike’s first attempt in 2003, of which he lasted 12 days.
While preparing for his last attempt, Mike was working closely with a contact in Japan who was concerned with the solo attempt. After seeing Mike row, the contact came to the conclusion that he was indeed capable of succeeding as Mike had the “Viking Spirit”. Wrong ocean but the right idea.
Mike was born in Boston, England. He joined the Royal Marines at 16. Towards the end of his time in the Corps he became involved with offshore sailing and eventually would go on to pursue this as a full time occupation, working throughout the world on Private yachts. It was during this period that he became aware of the possibility of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. Mike and his brother successfully rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, completely unsupported and becoming only the fourth set of Brothers ever to do so.
In spring 2004 Mike Dawson will leave Tokyo alone headed for San Francisco for his second attempt to row the Pacific.
Statistics provided by the Ocean Rowing Society
Image of Mike in the cabin of his boat courtesy of goldengate-endeavour.com
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