The Adventure of a Lifetime:
Rowing Across the Atlantic Ocean
By EIFION WILLIAMS
VANCOUVER - On February 23, 2006, after 86 days of huge seas, violent storms, terrifying near-capsizes, unbearable thirst, bizarre hallucinations, and sleep deprivation, 29-year-old Limerick-man Paul Gleeson and his 21-year-old Canadian girlfriend Tori Holmes rowed their little 24-foot rowing boat into a small harbour on the Caribbean Island of Antigua.
This marked the end of an epic three month voyage which saw the adventurous couple row their boat 4,800 kilometres across the Atlantic Ocean.
Acting on self-assured determination and an ever-growing sense of adventure, Paul and Tori embraced the dream of rowing a tiny boat across the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean in the 2005/06 Atlantic Rowing Race.
What makes this story even more interesting is neither of them knew how to row prior to entering the race, which included several former World and Olympic rowing champions.
In November 2005, Paul and Tori left the Canary Islands to row across the Atlantic. In February 2006, they completed their epic journey after enduring some of the worst weather in 50 years for this part of the Atlantic Ocean.
Upon their return to Ireland in 2006, Paul and Tori wrote a book about their adventure which was published in Ireland. Their book, entitled Crossing the Swell is now being published in Canada.
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LIMERICK-MAN Paul Gleeson and his Canadian girlfriend Tori Holmes spent 86 days tossed about in a little 24-foot rowing boat as they battled the elements to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
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Part inspirational adventure story, part travelogue and part romance, Crossing the Swell is an honest and intimate portrayal of what it takes to truly engage in the many adventures that life has to offer.
The official launch for the book will take place on September 30 at the Vancouver Rowing Club at 6 PM. If you would like to come along to this event, contact Paul directly by e-mail at: pgleeson@nicolawealth.com or call (604) 739-6450.
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