THIERRY DAGUES > Rowing a Boat across the Atlantic

FAQ . . .

Frequently asked questions:

> How is everyday life on a transatlantic crossing ?

> How and with what they are nourished ?

> What are the safety precautions for such a project ?

> Which is the current record of the crossing ?


> How is everyday life on a transatlantic crossing ?

Daily Routine
Thierry will test various methods to optimize his effectiveness in daily time of oar, while having a sufficient sleep.

Its time of oar by 24h is evaluated between 6h and 12h.

While at rest, a rower will have:
- To cook
- To use the desalanisator to make drinking water
- To control the general state of the boat (+ cleaning and arrangement)
- To navigate (to take position, log book, analyzes current and winds.)
- To inform the people on the ground
- And of course to sleep! !

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> How and with what they are nourished ?

Thierry will take 3 principal meals each day.
- Freeze-dried food
- Energy bars and drinks
- Sometimes fresh fish!

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> What are the safety precautions for such a project ?

The Masters words are: rigour and anticipation!!

The boat will be in constant relation with its router with ground.
In the event of a problem, it will be the maritime solidarity which will return concerned. It should be known that the road of the Trade winds is attended enough by various cargo liners or pleasure boats.

Moreover, the boat will be equipped with the safety equipments according to:
- combination of survival
- Pharmacy for boat of first category
- Lawful hazard warning lights
- Channels of survival
- IRIDIUM:
The network Iridium made up of 66 satellites revolving around the world with an altitude of approximately 800 km (420 miles nautical) allows today all types of transmissions per telephone (telephony, radio-transport, data transmissions) where that one is and in all circumstances, on the totality of the terrestrial sphere.
Thanks to their low orbit, the Iridium satellites cover the world with the means narrow beams, which ensures of the clear connections with signals powerful. The reception antenna is of sufficiently reduced size for to be integrated on a portable telephone.
Thierry will have an Iridium portable which will allow him to communicate with any other telephone in the world.

- BEACON ARGOS (CLS):
The beacon installed on the boat emits a signal towards a satellite which retransmits it in a computer centre. The received data are analyzed and transformed into position making it possible to very precisely locate the ship on the Ocean. One can thus locate road followed by this last and if required to note an anomaly. Argos also have an alarm which, started in the event of urgency by navigator, is received instantaneously with ground.

- PORTABLE VHF : Allowing transmitter-receiver with reduced range of the connections with the close boats.

- RADAR : Instrument of navigation and safety. It is equipped with a detector reflectors radar amplified with alarm of collision.

- BEACON SARSAT IESM :
Signal transmitter of distress personalized on maritime and aeronautical satellite frequencies with positioning geographical permanent.

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> Which is the current record of the crossing ?

The record of the crossing was carried out in 2004 by Emmanuel Coindre in 42 days (left on January, the 7th of 2004, arrived on Febrery, the 19th 2004).

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