Rowers prepare for CWF Africa to Americas Expedition: 100 days deep at sea in a rowboat

VICTORIA, Oct. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Get ready for the CWF Africa to Americas Expedition, a 100 day deep sea education and research rowing adventure from the West African city of Dakar, Senegal to the North American shores of Miami, Florida.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) Africa to the Americas Expedition launches late December just before New Years to raise awareness that 2013 is the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation. The OAR Northwest rowers hope to reach Miami - 6,700 km across the Atlantic Ocean - before World Water Day on March 22.

Adam Kreek, a Gold Medal Olympian, is undertaking this extreme challenge with three other rowers to inspire young people, to take up outdoor activities and experience the many faces of the natural world first hand. "We will protect what we know and love," Kreek says. "Kids these days are bombarded with advertising and technology that encourages unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles. I aim to promote the opposite. Outdoor adventure is challenging and fun. Most importantly it's available for any amateur to tackle."

Lifestyle Markets in Victoria, B.C. is supportive of this ocean row, providing nutritious, healthy food and supplements to power the athletes across the Atlantic Ocean.

"Lifestyle Markets are proud to support OAR Northwest for their efforts with Canadian Wildlife Federation toward educating the community on our marine wildlife and habit conservation," says Carmine Sparanese, General Manager. "We believe a healthy planet contains healthy communities with healthy people and are happy to supply Adam Kreek and the OAR Northwest crew with high quality organic food and supplements to help achieve this amazing goal."

Natural Factors Nutritional Products, Ltd. is also proud to support the nutritional requirements of the rowers.

"Natural Factors is proud to support Adam Kreek and the whole OAR Northwest team as they row from Africa to Florida, gathering research and accomplishing something that's never been done before." Says Liana McDaniel, RHN, "This trip will demand a lot of physical and mental strength for the team and we are happy to support and compliment their nutritional needs with a well-rounded supplement program. The Natural Factors products that have been specifically selected will help to keep their immune systems active, sleep cycles regular and overall protein and vitamin requirements met for optimum performance. We wish the team a safe and successful journey and look forward to following their adventure."

The ocean rowboat needs to be packed by Nov. 1 for shipment to Dakar Senegal, the start point of the ocean row. The food will be packed into individual daily rations in Seattle, where the boat is being prepared.

The adventurers will be rowing 24 hours a day in shifts while studying the state of our planet's oceans as well as the state of their personal health with help from the University of Victoria, the University of Washington, and a number of other institutions. When they are not rowing, the athletes will sleep in one to two or four-hour shifts, monitored by scientists to study their irregular sleep patterns and circadian rhythms while under constant duress of the extreme journey.

"My teammates and I will be collecting research data on human physiology and ocean biology, physics and chemistry along our voyage," Kreek says. "The data we collect will contribute to increasing our understanding of the planet, the human condition, and the relationship between the two."

Wade Luzny, CEO - Executive Vice President of the Canadian Wildlife Federation, says the row will power a deeper understanding of marine conservation and this will also help tackle Nature Deficit Disorder, a disturbing disconnect between youth and the outdoors.

"This is an incredible opportunity to gather ocean science data by way of human power, all the while engaging the public in innovative learning about marine species, water conservation and cooperation as well as encouraging outdoor adventures and activities," Luzny says. "It's deep. Catch the wave and follow the journey at OARNorthwest.com and CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca."

ABOUT OAR NORTHWEST
Founded in 2005, OAR Northwest is a non-profit organization specializing in Ocean Adventure Rowing and Education. OARNorthwest connects with partners to propel youth, schools, community members and businesses to showcase the outdoors, marine habitat and healthy lifestyles. This motivates student learning about the outdoors, science, wildlife and physical education. Face-to-face interactions with expedition crew members, innovative online tracking technology and an adventure learning curriculum help OARNorthwest achieve these goals. For more information visit OARnorthwest.org.

ABOUT THE CANADIAN WILDLIFE FEDERATION
Founded in 1962, the Canadian Wildlife Federation is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to fostering awareness and appreciation of our natural world. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, sponsoring research, developing and delivering education programs, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, recommending changes to policy and co-operating with like-minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature. For more information visit CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca.

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BACKGROUNDER:

CWF Africa to Americas Expedition Facts:

• If successful, the rowers will set a world record as the first team to row from Dakar to Miami
  
  
• The expedition is about 6,700 km (4,163 miles) or 3,659 nautical miles
  
  
• The ocean rowers will burn 6,000 - 10,000 calories a day
  
  
• The rowers are packing 6,000 calories per day for the first 60 days at sea, and 3,000 calories per day for the remaining 40 days at sea. They have a Jetboil stove and may also catch fresh seafood to eat
  
  
• The estimated crossing time is 60-100 days
  
  
• The ocean rowboat is 8.8 metres long (29 feet)
  
  
• The aft cabin is 2.4 metres long (8 feet). This is where the rowers sleep in shifts, record scientific data, blog and upload photos and videos to OARNorthwest.org
  
  
• There is no support ship following the crew, but they have deep sea survival training, safety equipment, a satellite phone and GPS tracking
  
  
• The rowboat is equipped with a desalination unit to convert salt water to fresh for drinking, a wind turbine and solar panels to power research and communications equipment and a broad spectrum hydrophone to record underwater sounds of marine life
  
  
• OAR Northwest successfully completed its three week training row around Vancouver Island, the CWF Africa to Americas expedition, in May, 2012.

Expedition Foods Include:
Oats, quinoa, couscous, rice.
Crackers, cheese, nut butter.
Copious amounts of olive oil, coconut oil and honey
De La Estancia Polenta
Backpackers Pantry Dehydrated Meals.
Natural Factors Protein Powder and Vitamins
JagaSilk Tea & Hemp Protein
The Edge Real Food Bars
E-Load electrolyte drink
Fruit Gummies
(See attached spreadsheet for more info)

Rowers:
Adam Kreek - Victoria, BC
Markus Pukonen - Tofino, BC
Jordan Hanssen - Seattle, WA
Pat Fleming - Seattle, WA

Mission Control:
Greg Spooner - Bellingham, WA

SOURCE: CANADIAN WILDLIFE FEDERATION

Adam Kreek
[phone]
[email protected]

Greg Spooner
206.795.4184
[email protected]

Heather Robison
Canadian Wildlife Federation
[phone]
[email protected]