As of yesterday, Seattle-based ocean rowing team Ocean Adventure Racing (OAR) Northwest is within 35 miles of winning the Shepherd Ocean Fours Rowing Race 2006.
On June 10, the OAR Northwest team departed from New York harbor on a 2863 nautical-mile race to Bishop Rock, UK. Now, more than two months later, the team is expected to cross the finish line sometime late this evening. Then, it will take the team one to three days to complete the 70 mile row to Falmouth, England, dependant on the weather.
When finished, the OAR Northwest rowers will be the first Americans to row the North Atlantic route from New York harbor to Bishop Rock, off the Isles of Scilly, UK. Additionally, if the OAR Northwest team maintains its lead, the James Robert Hanssen will be the first boat ever rowed from mainland United States to mainland England.
While at sea, the rowers have continued to raise money for the American Lung Association of Washington. In honor of rower Jordan Hanssens father, James Robert Hanssen, the rowers dedicated the last 1000 miles of the race to raising awareness about the impact of asthma on residents of Washington State.