S.B. Lends Support to Grateful Coxless Crew

Waylaid by electrical issues, four women rowing across the Pacific Ocean for charity made a pit stop in Santa Barbara for repairs, and they said they’ve been “overwhelmed” by the support the city has offered.

“In addition to all of the kind emails, messages on our blog and social media, ever since we arrived in Santa Barbara, there have been people willing to help us out in whatever way they can,” rower Isabel Burnham wrote in a May 10 blog post. “We already feel very at home at the Santa Barbara marina, where we have a small crowd of friends and helpers.” Burnham lists a number of folks by name.

A few days earlier, rower Natalia Cohen blogged, “It’s also been great being in Santa Barbara as it’s a weird and wonderful place. Everyone seems to have got the work/lifestyle ratio spot on. As they are laid back and clearly enjoy the mild climate and seaside location. Everyone, young or old, actually looks like a surfer!!” Read all their online posts here.

Called the Coxless Crew, the four women set out three weeks ago from San Francisco on their way to Australia. But their 8,446-mile journey, which is expected to take five to six months, depending on weather, was forced to take a 180-degree turn when their on-board batteries both died. They’ve been in town almost a week and are expected to take to the ocean again in the next day or so.

The Coxless Crew is aiming to raise around half a million dollars for their two charities, Walking With the Wounded and Breast Cancer Care. Their epic row to Australia will take them first through Hawai’i and Samoa. The route has only ever been completed by solo and pairs teams.

For more info and ways to donate, visit coxlesscrew.com.