Author Topic: A frenchwoman windsurfs across Pacific. (Read 1874 times)

miko2d · « **on:** November 11, 2003, 09:30:01 AM »

Reuters, November 8, 2003

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A French woman has completed the first solo windsurfer crossing of the Pacific from Peru to Tahiti.

Raphaela Le Gouvello, 43, arrived in Papeete this week after travelling 7170 kilometres in 89 days and seven hours, her website reported. She has already completed solo crossings of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

Her home for three months was a 7.8-metre board on which she ate and slept in special watertight compartments. She contacted her back-up crew in Paris twice a day to report her position.

Le Gouvello completed the first crossing of the Atlantic by a woman windsurfer in 2000, taking 58 days to sail from Senegal to Martinique. Two years later she crossed the Mediterranean from Marseilles to Tunis in 10 days.

gofaster · « **Reply #1 on:** November 11, 2003, 09:51:14 AM »

Chalk one up for older athletes!

udet · « **Reply #2 on:** November 11, 2003, 09:52:02 AM »

wow that was freaking amazing!!!

capt. apathy · « **Reply #3 on:** November 11, 2003, 09:59:03 AM »

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Her home for three months was a 7.8-metre board on which she ate and slept in special watertight compartments.

water tight compartments, about 24' long? that's a sail boat.

Sixpence · « **Reply #4 on:** November 11, 2003, 10:04:04 AM »

"Her home for three months was a 7.8-metre board on which she ate and slept in special watertight compartments. She contacted her back-up crew in Paris twice a day to report her position. "

So, actually, it was a mini yacht.

Curval · « **Reply #5 on:** November 11, 2003, 10:16:55 AM »

I'm thinking that the heavy underarm hair acted somewhat like a sail and enabled an additional knot or two.

Pooh21 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 11, 2003, 10:24:40 AM »

she'd lose the speed advantage from underarm hair, from her leg hair. But the white flag on the back would also help a little

Sixpence · « **Reply #7 on:** November 11, 2003, 10:56:09 AM »

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Originally posted by capt. apathy
water tight compartments, about 24' long? that's a sail boat.

Ya beat me to it.

miko2d · « **Reply #8 on:** November 11, 2003, 11:18:24 AM »

She carried freeze-dried food and desalinated the ocean water.

mrblack · « **Reply #9 on:** November 11, 2003, 11:25:00 AM »

Score one for the French:aok

Habu · « **Reply #10 on:** November 11, 2003, 11:27:00 AM »

She has inspired me.

I am going to voyage to Florida from Canada. Much like the pioneers I will be equiped with nothing but a compass, some cloths and a 32' RV.

Octavius · « **Reply #11 on:** November 11, 2003, 11:31:43 AM »

Y'know, regardless of the board, er boat, she's in, crossing the Pacific in something that small and alone is a neat accomplishment.

I wouldnt go for the prestige of holding a record as a windsurfer (because of the bitching over the fact that it's not even a board

), I'd do it because I can.

SFRT - Frenchy · « **Reply #12 on:** November 11, 2003, 11:58:41 AM »

Yeah that's a boat! ... but quite a fun experience requiring some willspirit.

gofaster · « **Reply #13 on:** November 11, 2003, 12:19:49 PM »

Maybe next year there will be a race!

I can see it now.

USA
Aussie
France
England
New Zealand
maybe even a Canadian board....

It would be cool.

I remember a few years ago a Cuban man windsurfed his way to Florida.

Tumor · « **Reply #14 on:** November 11, 2003, 12:24:49 PM »

Crossing the ocean on a BOAT that size, alone.. Awesome.

Windsurfing? Not.