Paraplegic veteran to embark on solo row from Calif. to Hawaii

Paraplegic veteran to embark on solo row from Calif. to Hawaii
By Julie Jag
Santa Cruz Sentinel, Calif.
Published: June 7, 2013

SANTA CRUZ — Angela Madsen has shown no fear in the days approaching her impending solo row across the Pacific. When it comes to the dangers of the 2,300-mile trip scheduled to begin Saturday from the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor and end about 80 days later in Hawaii, she recounts them like she's reading off her grocery list.

"Big storms, so the boat gets passed around — it's designed to be self-righting so it shouldn't tip over. While I'm rowing the boat I could be injured. You're tied into the boat, but if a rogue wave hits you, if you come untied, you could be lost at sea — lost at sea is a category in this sport," she says. "There's the risk of getting run over by a big cargo ship, though that's less now with AIS and satellite tracking. So mostly it's weather and giant waves. Sharks will rub up against the hull at night, but I haven't seen aggressive ones. Broken bones ..."

She pauses for a breath, then adds, "My risk is the same as anybody else's when it comes to risk at sea."
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