On May 15, 70-year-old Norwegian doctor Stein Hoff settled into his 24-foot-long rowboat. Soon after, he pulled out of New York City’s North Cove Marina near Battery Park. Initially, the wind and the current worked against him. He needed a short tow from a dinghy to get away from the shore. But after that, he intended to row onward without the support of any other vessel. Hoff’s goal: the Isles of Scilly on the southwest coast of England.
In his initial plan, Hoff hoped to cross the Atlantic Ocean and arrive by August 14—a 90-day trip. At the time of this article, he had experienced some setbacks. He had traveled one-third the distance, but found himself behind schedule. Hoff had to revise his anticipated arrival date. If weather doesn’t hinder him, he should make land in England shortly after September 1.
Hoff is attempting to do solo what was first done by a duo in 1896. The 1896 trip was made by two Norwegian Americans. George Harbo and Gabriel Samuelsen rowed their 18-foot wooden rowboat named Fox from the same harbor (where they also needed an initial tow) to the Isles of Scilly. The pair completed their trip in 55 days.
As a tribute to that journey 120 years ago, Hoff named his boat Fox II. But it bears little resemblance to the original. Hoff enjoys a waterproof cabin and technology that helps prevent the boat from capsizing—or rights it if it does. Harbo and Samuelsen experienced that life-threatening event mid-ocean. Stabilizing rails on the first Fox did not keep the boat from flipping and dumping the men into the depths. Together, they were able to right the vessel and continue on unharmed.
Fox II is also equipped with radio, a water distillation system, an iPad with a GPS navigation app, and a gas-powered cooking stove. Hoff took onboard all the supplies he expects to need, while Harbo and Samuelsen were re-supplied en route by passing ships.
When asked why the septuagenarian wanted to undertake such a grueling physical feat, Hoff said it is more than recreating a historical event that inspired him. As a doctor, he considers physical fitness very important. Rowing is a full-body exercise that Hoff believes keeps him in peak condition. Hoff’s 70-year-old body, like yours, is “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
“The aspect of fitness of elderly people really fascinates me,” Dr. Hoff told World Rowing. “I want to see what the human physiology is capable of. I might be the oldest person that has ever tried something like that and I want to prove that it is still possible.”
Fans and spectators can follow the trans-Atlantic trip on Facebook, where Hoff posts daily updates of his coordinates and sea conditions.
