A Funeral for a Rowboat
This is the ocean rowboat:
JAMES ROBERT HANSSEN.
It had a funeral and it looked like this:
KING 5 Evening Magazine: Epic Funeral for a Rowboat
She’s rowed the North Atlantic and won a race, and got a Guinness Record. Later she rowed from Africa to North America… but was capsized just east of the Bermuda Triangle and later discovered. She’s spent the last ten years at a museum, the museum didn’t have room for her anymore so she was responsibly destroyed on Monday, June 5 as part of the Department of Natural Resources Vessel Turn-in Program.
Her last voyage is to bring beer to the ‘Ruckus’ The party between the Seventy48 and Race to Alaska. #Ruckusbeerrun. @Jordanhanssen on Instagram.
Want to find out more?
Listen to this short podcast: A Bittersweet Boat Funeral.
Read about her in the Seattle Times: Seattle rower plans one last voyage — and a funeral — for beloved boat
Who are the people on the boat and why are they there: In Memorial
Watch the boat recovered at Sea: Ocean Rowboat Rescued by Tugboat and Crew
Read the book about her first Journey: Rowing into the Son, by Jordan Hanssen.
Watch the boats Circumnavigation around Vancouver Island: Salish Oars
Read the Trip Report for her second cross Atlantic Voyage: Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Africa to the Americas Expedition
Watch the Dateline Episode about her: ‘Capsized.”
Inspired by the story of the boat, its crew OAR Northwest and its tiny dinosaur mascot, Rex the rower and want a memento? Check it out: HERE
Hear the shanty about the rowboat, written by crew mate, Adam Kreek and performed by the Victoria Symphony. Lyrics below:
The man, James Robert Hanssen. The namesake of the boat and my father.
The final leg. Port Townsend Bay. Olympic Mountains in the background.
Delivered the beer. Mission Complete.
The crews take the final bow. Left to right: Pat Fleming, Greg Spooner, Adam Kreek, Erinn J. Hale, Jordan Hanssen, Rick Tarbill. Not pictured: Dylan LeValley, Markus Pukonen.