ONLY AUSSIE WOMAN TO ROW SOLO ATLANTIC VOYAGE AT BRISBANE BOAT SHOW
Michelle Lee, the only Australia woman to row solo non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean, will be at the Brisbane Boat Show, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, from the 23rd though to the 25th August, from 10AM each day.
Aboard her 8 metre boat Australian Maid, Michelle Lee successfully crossed the Atlantic earlier this year, a distance of 5000 kilometres, enduring almost 10 weeks of isolation alone on the ocean. Her story of tenacity, strength, survival and sheer determination is inspiring, along with the design and cost challenges of developing her own boat, and the will power required to make it to the start, let alone the finish line.
“Last year at the show plenty of people shared both their support and disbelief that I was planning to attempt such a thing,” Michelle said. “I’m looking forward to catching up with all my supporters and Brisbane-based Facebook friends who generated such great motivation and inspiration for me in the lonely and enduring hours at sea for such a long time.”
A novice rower, Michelle set her mind to achieving her goal no more than 3 years ago. As preparation for her Atlantic challenge, she set the current world record for the One Million Metre Row, taking 5 days, 21 hours, 35 minutes, undertaken on a stationary rowing machine, smashing the previous record by 11 hours held by German Olympic rower Anke Molkenthin.
During her Atlantic crossing, Michelle suffered sunburn, callouses, salt sores and loneliness. She needed to dive into the ocean multiple times in order to clear a pipi infestation on the underside of her boat, slowing her down. There was no shortage of further drama either, such as when her stove caught fire and had to be thrown overboard.
Michelle will be giving talks twice a day throughout the three days of the Show, included with the cost of entry. Visitors can buy tickets at the entrance to the Show, however organising tickets online at www.brisbaneboatshow.com.au is a great way to avoid any queues, and walk straight in. Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for children, with kids under 5 years old admitted free. There are discounts for seniors, pensioners and combined family tickets. After 5pm, all tickets for individuals are $5.
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