Atlantic Rower Encounters Problems
(9-27-98)
Major trouble at sea for a Utah man in a rowboat. Richard Jones today temporarily abandoned his quest to be the first American ever to row solo across an ocean. News Specialist John Hollenhorst has more.
Richard Jones hasn't decided whether to give up for good, yet. He's awaiting advice from his family here in Utah. But he's clearly discouraged... about his equipment... and the stiff winds that blew him in the wrong direction.
Last Wednesday, as Richard Jones started rowing in the early morning darkness, he had high hopes and a long trip ahead of him.
RICHARD JONES/MIDVALE: "I ONLY HAVE 239 DAYS TO GO!"
He was dreaming of Miami, Florida and a cold root beer, six months from now.
RICHARD JONES/MIDVALE: "MUST BE A HIRE'S ROOT BEER. AND IT MUST BE ICE-COLD!"
The seas were calm. The boat seemed perfect. Jones had been planning his solo adventure the last four years, investing well over $50,000, building his own boat. Before departure, he had two main worries, his drinking-water desalting system hadn't been tested. And the winds were against him.
RICHARD JONES/MIDVALE: "I MEAN, THEY'RE BLOWING ONTO LAND. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL STRUGGLE TO MAKE ANY MILEAGE GOING WEST."
20 miles down the Portuguese coast, a tearful good-bye with his daughter Susan.
SUSAN JONES/LAST WEEK: "AFTER ALL THIS TIME AND AFTER ALL THIS HARD WORK, AND ALL THE BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS THAT WENT INTO IT, TODAY WAS THE DAY."
An official send-off by marine radio.
KENNETH CRUTCHLOW/OCEAN ROWING SOCIETY: "OK! THIS IS KENNETH CRUTCHLOW OF THE OCEAN-ROWING SOCIETY, TAKING THE CHANCE TO WISH YOU A BON VOYAGE!"
A handful of people to wave goodbye.
JOHN MARSHALL/BRITISH SAILOR: "A LOT OF HIS HOMEWORK LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. I THINK HE'S GOT EVERY CHANCE."
But it was not to be.
In the last four days, winds pushed Jones way off course, 20, 30 miles to the north. He circled back. And then gave up. He radioed for help. A British sailboat towed him back to Lisbon.
In an e-mail message to his family in Utah, Jones said his drinking water system wasn't working and the winds were bad. He said he'd be embarrassed to give up for good.
But, he wrote: "I just don't feel good about trying to push this along, just because I said I would."
"I wait to hear from you."
His family decided to think about their response overnight, and declined to do interviews today. Now, it's worth noting... this is a typical problem for ocean-rowers. One of the famous ones had so much trouble getting off the coast, he departed eight times before he was finally underway.
