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July 6, 2007

Rower, aiming for Atlantic record, rescued off Cape

A 26-year-old French rower who left Cape Cod Wednesday hoping to break a record for rowing across the Atlantic Ocean was rescued last night by the Coast Guard.

Charlie Girard, who had set out alone from Orleans in a 23-foot custom-made boat, was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter crew about 50 miles east of Provincetown, the Coast Guard said.

Girard had encountered 5- to 8-foot seas and 15-knot wind last night, and the boat had rolled over seven to eight times, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Luke Pinneo.

Girard had set out to break the record of 62 days, 19 hours for crossing the nearly 4,000-mile route, according to information on the Web site Atlantique2007.com.

Girard had designed the boat himself, according to the Web site, which notes that he's an engineer, not a sailor.

Girard contacted an acquaintance, Richard Williams, of Orleans, Mass., around 7:20 p.m. and said he wanted to be taken off the boat, according to the Coast Guard.

A Coast Guard helicopter launched from Air Station Cape Cod at 8:15 p.m. and hoisted Girard to safety at about 9 p.m., the Coast Guard said.

The rower was brought back to Air Station Cape Cod and transferred to an ambulance.

"He was thrown around quite a bit and said he slammed into the side of the boat and that his lower back was bothering him," said Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class John Hughes, the helicopter's medical corpsman.

Girard was treated at Falmouth Hospital and released early this morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The Coast Guard issued a warning to mariners about the drifting rowboat.

Posted by Jack Perry  at 10:51 AM | Permalink

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mike | July 6, 2007 11:07 AM link

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