www.oceanrowing.com
Dec. 20, 2000
The last few days have been sheer terror for a man on a tiny rowboat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Also for his family waiting nervously here in Utah.
A big storm has been battering the boat incessantly. But, with luck the worst is over.
John Hollenhorst tells us more.
A 5th grade class in Logan has been paying close attention since Richard Jones launched his 28-foot boat near the coast of Africa two months ago.
The schoolkids have been checking longitude and latitude, calculating his mileage, charting his position daily.
The teacher is Jones' son-in-law, who says there was plenty of worry over the weekend when they lost contact with Jones.
ERIC NEWELL/JONES' SON-IN-LAW: "WE DID A LOT OF PRAYING AND HOPED HE WAS O.K."
In the last few days Jones has sent e-mail that paints a frightening picture.
"The boat is constantly being slammed by violent waves."
30 footers have repeatedly submerged the boat, and rolled it all the way over once. The rudder is broken and useless. Jones admits his confidence is shaken.
"I live in constant fear of the boat being rolled again," Jones writes. "I'm beginning to wonder if I'm made of the right stuff. "
ERIC NEWELL/JONES SON-IN-LAW: "I THINK HE'LL COME OUT. I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBT ABOUT THAT, HIS SPIRITS WILL CLIMB BACK UP."
Jones' daughter says the last few days have been frightening.
ALLISON NEWELL/JONES' DAUGHTER: "YEAH, I'VE BEEN NERVOUS. I SIT THERE AND I THINK, GOLL, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE OUT THERE."
But she feels better after Jones called by satellite phone Tuesday.
ALLISON NEWELL/JONES' DAUGHTER: "HE WAS STILL POSITIVE. BUT YET, NERVOUS."
ERIC NEWELL/JONES SON-IN-LAW: "IF ANYONE CAN DO IT, IT'S HIM. HE'S MR. ENDURANCE."
As Jones pulls those oars, he has a 5th grade class pulling for him too.
LAUNI LEFLER/LOGAN: "SOMETIMES IT GETS PRETTY SCARY. BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT SOUNDS LIKE HE'S HAVING FUN."
JULIAN VALDEZ/LOGAN: "I DON'T THINK HE'S CRAZY. I JUST THINK HE'S MAKING HIS DREAM."
JOHN HOLLENHORST REPORTING: "IN HIS LATEST E-MAILING, JONES NOTES THAT HE STILL HAS ABOUT 50 DAYS OF ROWING TO GO. JONES WRITES, 'I HOPE I MAKE IT BEFORE SOMETHING REALLY DISASTROUS HAPPENS.' JOHN HOLLENHORST EYEWITNESS NEWS.
In the last few days satellite positioning data has been unavailable.
But it is expected to be restored soon.
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