 Ipswich-based technology company, two10degrees, are sponsoring Lia Ditton, a professional sailor and artist, from Suffolk, who is attempting to become the first woman to row solo and unsupported from Choshi, Japan to the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco.
Currently in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lia is training in her custom ocean rowboat and will ship the boat to Japan in December 2017, ready for departure in March 2018. There will be no support vessel on the voyage, just Lia and the ocean. The closest human beings will be in the International Space Station, 90 miles overhead. Simon Woodroffe, OBE, former Dragon’s Den star and the founder of YO! was the first to back the historic attempt. “Lia is an inspirational woman,” he said. “It will be a difficult journey – some say harder than climbing Everest.” Assisting with such an ambitious project, two10degrees is helping Lia to source her on-board communications equipment, such as satellite phones and trackers. This vital equipment will enable Lia to provide updates on her journey and give her the ability to raise an SOS alarm in the event of an emergency. Completely on her own, in the middle of the ocean, communicating via satellites will be her only way of interacting with the rest of the world. In addition to the equipment, two10degrees will be providing tracking and mapping software and a live interactive map to keep followers updated on her journey. Richard Prodger, Technical Director at two10degrees “To date, only 18 people have attempted to row solo across the North Pacific Ocean. This is an excellent application of our global tracking software and will give peace of mind to Lia and her friends, family and supporters throughout her incredible mission.” 40-foot seas, 60-knot winds, whales, dolphins and sharks – there is nothing pacific about the Pacific. The Pacific Ocean is arguably the hardest and wildest stretch of ocean in the world. The journey is expected to take from 4 to 6 months and two10degrees will be supporting Lia throughout her training and her expedition. Find out more at www.yorow.org |