Samoan welcome for amazing crew

They rowed in yesterday morning at the Matautu wharf to be welcomed with beating drums, fragrant mosooi leis and Samoan music.

The Coxless Crew are a team of four women, who have spent 95 days at sea, rowing from San Francisco to Hawai'i, where they stopped for a break, then onto Samoa.

They are here for seven days, before they continue their journey across to their final destination, Cairns, Australia. The journey covers 8,446 miles.

Laura Penhaul, Emma Mitchell, Natalia Cohen and Lizanne van Vuuren is the first female team and first fours team to row the Pacific Ocean.

They aim to raise 250,000 British Pounds and awareness for their two charities, ‘Walking with the Wounded’ and ‘Breast Cancer Care’. Half of the funds raised will go towards younger women who have breast cancer. And as for Walk with the Wounded, the funds are for women injured at war and who are the unsung heroes.

“The vision is to inspire others to reach their potential, push through their boundaries and meet and overcome the challenges that life throws at them,” said a press statement.

THE JOURNEY

Yesterday, during a press conference at the wharf, they were overwhelmed by the welcome.

It was a break from battling the current and the winds. Several times, thoughts of reaching the shores of Samoa looked impossible.

“The thought of that made us dig even deeper than we thought we could. And I think we left everything on the boat, everything on the ocean just to get here.

I’m so glad we did. It would’ve been a devastation to miss this,” said Ms. Penhaul.

At sunrise yesterday morning, they could see the island of Upolu. It was “magical”.

“You don’t know just how much this means to us to have arrived after almost 100 days,” said a team member. They were also excited about the food that Digicel Samoa had waiting on nearby tables.

In getting here, the crew is on two hour shifts throughout. On one side, the experience, they said, is out of this world, where they are alone in the middle of the ocean. And life revolves around rowing, eating and sleeping.

But most important, was the ability to look after each other as a team.

“I think that’s the one thing we’ve taken away from this is what the team means to us and how tight we’ve become as friends and like a family on the boat. And that we can face everything with laughter and humour.

There’ve been tears, upset, that you work so hard and yet you’re going backwards on the current,” said Ms. Penhaul.

The emotional challenges come but there is always the drive, the motivation and innovation to come to places like Samoa. And there are also people who following their blogs and send messages of support.

“Were in our little bubble out there and to hear that …other people are inspired by what we’re doing is so humbling…that’s what keeps us going,” she said.

One of the many highlights for the crew was when a whale, about two to three times the size of Doris, their boat, came at oars length and sprayed in the air and it went in their faces.

“Where do you get an opportunity to actually get close to something like that?,” said Lizanne van Vuuren. That alone is something they may never see again.

Then there was the shark that followed them for about a month.

They named him, Fernando. He was friendly, they said, and would always come and say hello.

The patron of the Coxless Crew is superstar, Kylie Mynogue, whom they have met. She has helped spread the word about their journey, which has led more people to getting involved.

The singer and actress has beaten breast cancer herself.

On hearing about their struggle through their journey here, she sent them a message.

“You’ve been six months at seas which is just mind-blowing. I know you’ve reached a point in your journey that is particularly challenging and I want you to know, I’m right behind you…Dig deep – Cairns is waiting for you on your final push. We send you lots of love…Well done girls!”

The crew admits that the journey is no easy forte. There are times where one doesn’t want to continue. But that is not a choice and as a team, you never let your team mates down.

“The strength of our team is that we really supported each other. We’ve all had our tough moments but luckily not all at the same time.”

They thanked the organizer here in Samoa, Nicola Mills, who had followed their blog, for organizing their stay.

The welcome was also attended by the British Honorary Consul, Taulapapa Brenda Heather-Latu and the Australian High Commissioner, Sue Langford.

“Your voyage is yet another part of the rich weaving that has created the history of Samoa and many countries of the Pacific and we are so proud and honoured that you have come here to Samoa to break your journey,” said Taulapapa in her welcome speech.

Meanwhile, Ms. Mills, the Digicel team and sponsors plan to make this visit memorable with lots of food, pampering and rest.

The Coxless Crew leaves on Monday with Meg Dyos, who will row with the girls to Australia.