DHL Prepares OAR Project for Historic Journey across the North Atlantic
DHL, the world’s leading logistics company, announces its sponsorship of the OAR Project (Olympic Atlantic Row), the first ocean rowing attempt on record to cross the North Atlantic from St John’s, Newfoundland to Bristol, England continuing through the British Inland Waterways. The 2,000 mile journey will challenge the two ocean rowers to reach London in time for the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
As the official logistics partner of the OAR project, DHL will be transporting ‘Bojangles’, a state of the art ocean rowing boat, from San Francisco, California, to St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada, where rowers Andrew Morris and Roz Savage will begin their adventure through the infamous Canadian Grand Banks.
“As a company that is certainly no stranger to achieving monumental challenges for its customers – particularly those on a global scale – DHL is proud to sponsor this historic journey for the OAR Project,” said John Cornish, Sr. Vice President / General Manager – Western USA. “We wish these two ocean rowers a safe journey as we track their incredible voyage every step of the way.”
The boat has been on display in the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park on Hyde Street Pier since her maiden voyage across the Pacific in 2009. She will enjoy a send-off celebration on April 23 hosted by OAR and the British American Business Council of Northern California at the British Embassy Building, One Sansome in San Francisco, California. Immediately following the ceremony, DHL will carefully transport ‘Bojangles’ on her 4,500 mile journey to Eastern Canada to hit the water for the next phase of her journey to London.
“We’re thrilled to have the support of DHL as a Silver Sponsor and official logistics partner,” said Andrew Morris from the OAR Project. “When we first discussed the idea of rowing Bojangles home to London, the biggest logistical challenge we faced was how to get her from San Francisco to St John’s. Bojangles is absolutely essential to the success of the OAR Project, and with DHL on board, I know she will be in safe hands on this leg of her journey.”
Battling against the prevailing winds and powerful currents of the North Atlantic, Andrew and Roz will depart by May 14, 2012 from St. John’s to endure a gruelling routine; rowing two hours on, two hours off, twenty four hours a day. The OAR Project is set to be fully interactive: spectators on both sides of the Atlantic will be able to track the progress as the adventure unfolds via an interactive map available at www.oar2012.com .The images and stories of the OAR will also be published via social media.
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Media Contacts:
DHL Express U.S. Communications
Robert Mintz
+1 425 984 4249
OAR US Press Office OAR UK Press Office
Naomi Coe Rachel Smith
+1 415 361 0801 +44 (0) 7977 452 337
naomi@oar2012.com rachel@oar2012.com
Notes to Editors:
High-resolution images are available on request.
Interviews with the team and sponsors can be arranged, please ask for details.
For further details, please visit www.oar2012.com.
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DHL is the global market leader in the logistics industry and “The Logistics company for the world”. DHL commits its expertise in international express, air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation, contract logistics and international mail services to its customers. A global network composed of more than 220 countries and territories and about 275,000 employees worldwide offers customers superior service quality and local knowledge to satisfy their supply chain requirements. DHL accepts its social responsibility by supporting climate protection, disaster management and education.
DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL. The Group generated revenue of 53 billion euros in 2011.
The OAR Project is a world first in ocean rowing. Andrew Morris and Roz Savage, both experienced ocean rowers, will cross over 2000 miles of the treacherous North Atlantic before continuing up the Bristol Channel and all the way to London via the UK’s inland waterways. They will set off by May 14th 2012 and aim to arrive in London in time for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games on July 27th.
Andrew and Roz met in 2005 when competing in same ocean rowing race from the Canary Islands to Antigua, albeit in different boats. For both of them, this was their first taste of ocean rowing and their journeys each sparked a sense of adventure that has remained with them.
Andrew Morris is a British entrepreneur with varied business interests including award-winning companies ranging in diversity from shipping to iconic motorbike manufacture. He also has a passionate interest in motor racing.
A latecomer to the life of adventure, Roz Savage worked as a management consultant in London for 11 years. Since embarking on her first ocean (the Atlantic) in 2005, she also completed rows across the Pacific and Indian oceans. She has rowed over 15,000 miles, taken around 5 million oar strokes, and spent cumulatively over 500 days of her life at sea in a 23-foot rowboat.
In 2010 Roz was named Adventurer of the Year by National Geographic.
Roz is also a United Nations Climate Hero, an Athlete Ambassador for 350.org, and an Ambassador for the Blue Project.
In addition to this incredible North Atlantic rowing challenge, the OAR Project has also created a unique education program, OAR Inspiring. Bringing a real adventure to life in the classroom, OAR Inspiring is designed to teach the positive aspects of endeavour, courage and challenge and encourage young people to broaden their horizons. Working in conjunction with the Rowing Foundation, a UK charity, the OAR Project is also raising money for an OAR Legacy fleet of rowing boats that will help young people from deprived areas get out on the water.