Dr. Stein Hoff, who departed from the Battery on the morning of Sunday, May 15, was forced this weekend to abandon (after 84 days at sea) his quixotic attempt to propel himself across the Atlantic Ocean.
Although the doctor himself was still game to go on, his vessel was not: Multiple equipment failures, including a broken rudder, a lost sea anchor, and three snapped oars (with the fourth lost entirely) made it impossible to continue.
During his time at sea, Dr. Hoff rowed the waves, and rode the waves, and wrote of the ways in which he passed the days.
His journey was meant to commemorate a similar undertaking, 120 years earlier, by George Harbo and Frank Samuelsen, who 1896, became the first people ever to row across an ocean. Their time record for paddling the puddle remained broken for 114 years, and only then by four rowers instead of two.
Dr. Stein’s last few entries before being rescued at sea on Saturday (August 6) kept us glued to the screen, waiting for bulletins about his rescue.
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Here’s the latest:
(from his wife Diana)
“I have just spoken to Stein aboard Ludolf Oldendorff!!
He is tired, a bit battered and bruised, a bit disappointed, but very happy to be safe and sound, and looking forward to some proper food! It was lovely to hear his voice after over two months, and I am looking forward to seeing him in a few days.
The ship is on its way to Canada, tomorrow I will get the details of where and when it will dock, and will probably fly over to meet him. So that is the end of his Atlantic crossing, he was unlucky to meet such extreme weather, but he has made a heroic attempt and I am very proud of him.
Like my son, I am very grateful to the ‘redningssentral’ in Bodø, Norway, the National Maritime Operations Centre in UK and the captain and crew of Ludolf Ordendorf for a fantastic rescue operation. Many thanks to all.
That is all from Martin and me at the moment, I expect Stein will be back tomorrow with some more tales of his experiences in the storm.”
Letters
Dr. Stein Hoff’s Rescue
Dear Editor,
WHAT A RELIEF to hear that Dr. Stein Hoff is safe! We have been following his journey via The Broadsheet (Great job!!).
Thank you to the Broadsheet and to Dr. Stein Hoff for sharing this wonderful adventure with us. We wish him a speedy recovery and a safe trip home to his family.
Best regards
A Mittal
Wheew!! Thanks for the update! Glad he is safe.
Take care,
Maryanne Braveman
After reading of Dr. Stein’s trials, tribulations and glories every single day since you started publishing his adventures, my heart sank when I read today’s this morning’s emergency bulletin.
Never having had the honor of meeting this valiant man, I still feel as though a good friend of mine is in danger. If there are such things as “sea angels” I can only hope they are keeping him afloat until rescue arrives! I pray the next message finds him safe and sound-and finally dry.
Beverly Hegmann
Thank you Broadsheet for bringing Dr Stein Hoff’s adventures to our attention. I have been following his voyage as have many others on both sides of the Atlantic. Most of us have never met him, yet we collectively cheered him on. Although he failed to reach England, he achieved so much, not the least of which is reminding us that sometimes we have to go outside of our comfort zone to achieve our dreams.
Audrey Comisky
I just returned from the Norwegian Sailors Church were I lit a candle and made a prayer for his rescue. That has been answered!
Stanley Fine
Thanks for keeping readers posted about the cross-Atlantic rowing. Hope rescuers are coming now – pls continue to keep us posted.
Annie Troy
Thank you so much for sharing Dr. HOff’s adventure with us, keeping us connected,and the comfort of knowing he is safe. Broadsheet is exceptional: the astronomy, the chronology, the neighborhood reports. I am so admire what you do and hope you will keep doing it.
Dr. Marilyn Gaull
Very happy he is safe but wondering how he will reimburse all the rescue service that were mobilized to help him on from his foolhardy journey!
Alan Davis
Very glad to learn Dr. Stein is safe. He and the Broadsheet provided us lessons in seamanship, geography and, last but certainly not least, courage and resourcefulness. Thanks for bringing us this wonderful saga.
Betty Heller