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Rowing Across the Atlantic

Posted by michael on from the gosh-are-my-arms-tired dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes: "Wired News has an article about 68 men and women who are rowing across the Atlantic. "All 34 boats in this year's race are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, and practically all the rowers have satellite phones and other wireless gadgets with Internet access.""

2 of 102 comments (clear)

  1. Why Start In Winter? - And Why Sporting News on /. by Ieshan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What's the purpose of starting in winter? Or are they rowing in the Southern Hemisphere? Even so, this seems like a stupid idea.

    Rowing over a major ocean during the end of storm season through winter is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of. I wish they would think before they do stuff like this.

    But I suppose the contestants, I suppose that's what you'd call them, get some sort of rush out of doing crap like this. I just don't understand what kind of rush it is.

    Furthermore, I don't understand why sporting news belongs on /., but that's another story.

  2. Not about GPS and Satellite Phones... by DaoudaW · · Score: 4, Insightful

    While the rowers say they are grateful for the wireless perks like GPS and satellite phones, Vose says the gadgets are not giving the rowers an unfair advantage.

    Both Wired and Slashdot seem to emphasize the technology. This is an amazing, grueling physical trial. The tech is for us to follow them and rescue if necessary. Their main tech tool is the business end of an oar.