56 Mile Row for Tuna

I posted this on the other fishing board, and several of you suggested I post it here too to spark a discussion about human-powered endurance trips. 

Last Wednesday I rowed my 14 foot wherry 56 miles in the open ocean with the trip taking 16 hours. Here is the story and a link to the GoPro vid.




========
I surf-launched pre-dawn at Oceanside (with Joe pushing me off), rowed 26 miles to a reliable tuna waypoint off Cape Lookout, stopped for a 1/2 hour lunch, then rowed to Pacific City for a late twilight beach landing.

I had two dory escorts the whole way. In the morning it was Ed and LeRoyon Ed's dory, plus the Harvey dory "Frayed Knot". Late in the afternoon Ed peeled off to return to Garibaldi and Joe took his place in his dory "Wild Ride." Had anything gone wrong, the best kind of help was close at hand.

Here is the trip in a nutshell:
* Elapsed time 16 hours
* Distance rowed 56 miles per GPS odometer
* Morning speed on smooth ocean ~ 4.2 mph
* Afternoon speed on sloppy ocean (10-14 knot winds, whitecaps) ~3.4 mph
* Drank 2 gallons of water/electrolytes
* Stopped rowing only for PP, hydrating and snacks (aside from 1/2 hr lunch)
* Heart rate generally between 114 and 128, averaging around 119

My wonderful escort crews have worked with me for over a year planning this expedition. Ed did on-the-water testing with me on the Columbia, practicing pulling the wherry onto his dory and lashing it down crosswise across the bow, just in case that became necessary at sea. We also water-tested a custom towing bridle for the wherry.

Over the winter Ed built a custom boarding ladder for his dory, which we also water tested to assure I could climb aboard from the water should the worst happen.

Joe provided roaring encouragement when the idea was but a glimmer. He's spent hours planning with me, and more hours researching everything from boat skin friction reduction to oar design.

As for Tim, all it took was one phone call last fall and he was all-in, pledging to drop everything when the day came, and indeed he did.

As for my part, I've trained hard on the rowing machine, and on the Willamette. This spring I completed training rows of 32 miles, 35 miles, and 61 miles (Scappoose to Oregon City and back).

Yeah, I was tired when I landed. In fact I fell down when I tried to step out of the boat onto the sand. I was a bit wobbly on my feet, but otherwise ok.

No tuna! The escort boats and I trolled to no avail. I spent 10 minutes deep jigging on my lunch break, but without a fishfinder (transducer is too much drag) it was pretty much a troll game. Very few birds, no jumpers. I had to turn around at the 124 30 line because there isn't enough daylight to go any farther. I had one troll hookup but it was a shark.

Many thanks to my escort crews, and to my wife for putting up with my training regimen. I am fortunate to have the best people in my life.

You are an animal!

I'd seen this on ifish and I'm glad you decided to cross post it here.  Good stuff!

Would you do it again?
-Mark-

Wow. Epic! Loved it! I wonder how you would have had the energy to row back in had you run into a school of tuna though?

Fred "True" Trujillo

Congrats, that looked like one hell of a day on the water. 
Hopefully, if you try it again the fish gods will reward your efforts with plentiful tuna.

Such an amazing adventure!!  Thanks for sharing, Tinman!

INSANE!!!  That is awesome!! Great story! 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

Really great story and one I am sure you won't soon forget. It's a bummer you didn't manage to catch any Tuna, but it doesn't diminish the greatness of the journey!

Valiant effort.

That is awesome!

Nice work!!!

Holy Old Man and the Sea!! What an amazing adventure!!

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

How do rowboats and kayaks compare for long distances?   How far do you folks go on a long trip?  How does paddling and peddling compare?

Pedaling is a totally different muscle group compared to paddling - obviously. I have more strength and endurance using my lower legs for propulsion. The limiting factor (for me) on endurance would be butt comfort!  16hours in my seat would cease to be fun at about hour 12.  The pedal kayaks likely have more drag and wasted energy for tracking, so you'd need to do some training and find your own endurance limit range.  Rowing and paddling are different uses of the upper body - that's probably a closer comparison.

What you did in the wherry is a significant accomplishment for fitness and endurance- along with creativity and ocean knowledge. Thanks for sharing your adventure.

How do rowboats and kayaks compare for long distances?   How far do you folks go on a long trip?  How does paddling and peddling compare?

I have not been trying to set any records but my longest day trolling in tidewater, paddling, was 12 miles until I ran out of daylight. That was five years ago and I was 55 then. Shorter trips seem to be the norm for me now.

How old are you, by the way, if you don't mind saying? I appreciate your report and think it was quite an accomplishment.

Yes, the part of me that hurts the most on these long rows is my butt.  Wearing a pair of "rowing trou" really helps.  They are specialized shorts, designed for competitive rowing.  And every hour or so I get into a kneeling position for a few minutes to take the pressure off my butt.  That really helps.

I'm 59 years old.