Three native Houstonians — Michael Matson, David Alviar, and Brian Krauskopf — will depart the Canary Islands to the coast of Africa on a 3,000 mile journey, unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean. Swells, exhaustion, hunger, sleepless nights, total isolation, and an unforgiving sea are a few of the obstacles between that stand between them and crossing an ocean. Determined, resolute, and eager to champion their causes, nothing will prevent them from making this a reality.
On December 14, 2016, they will leave La Gomera of the Canary Islands for Antigua in the Caribbean in an ocean double scull. Carrying all their own food and water, they will row across the waves undaunted in their mission compete in the 2016 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. Using only oars as a power source, they plan to shatter three world rowing records:
- The first Texans to row an ocean
- The first three-man boat to row across the Atlantic Ocean
- The fastest American boat to row the Atlantic Ocean in less than forty-five days
All three oarsmen were commissioned as Admirals in the Texas Navy by Governor Greg Abbott. Skipper Mike Matson received his commission first followed by commissions for his crew Brian Krauskopf and David Alviar.
Anne, the American Oarsmen’s trusted rowboat, is now a commissioned ship in the Texas Navy – she will be the first vessel in over 150 years to hit the high seas under that title. The boat is named for Anne McCormick Sullivan, a Houston firefighter who lost her life in the line of duty in 2013.
http://www.racetheatlantic.com/
Text adapted from the Fall 2016 issue of the Invincible (PDF).
Charles E. Hawkins Squadron 