Not content with rowing the Atlantic twice, former 1997 Atlantic Rowing Challenge competitor Joseph Le Guen, is planning yet another ocean rowing passage. On Tuesday 25 January 2000, Joseph will set off from New Zealand on a unique attempt to row 4,860nm single handed, across the Pacific Ocean to Cape Horn.

The 52-year old, father of five is the son, grandson, and great grandson of deep-sea fishermen. He has made a dozen Atlantic crossings by sail, 2 of them solo as well as a passage from New York to San Francisco via Cape Horn. He was the winner of the Molene sculling twice across the Atlantic solo in 1995. He has also competed as a two-man team with convicted double murderer Pascal Blond in 1997 on Atlantik Challenge, within the framework of a interactive project with the French prisons in a in a transatlantic rowing race in which the team finished second.

Jo is setting out in January to row solo across the Pacific from New Zealand to Cape Horn, in order to draw attention to the oceans and the Keep It Blue project, an environmental organization designed to highlight the ailing plight of the world?s oceans. Eighteen singers spanning 18 different types of music have recorded an album titled Keep It Blue to fund the endeavor.

The vessel for his latest adventure is 29 feet long and weighs 990-lbs. unloaded and 2530 lbs. loaded, including the 220-lb weight of the rower. A day begins with ablutions before alternating between rowing and resting, eating, producing water, navigation, producing electricity more rowing and more resting, communications, more rowing, and rest. The vessel is equipped with fax and satellite phone powered by solar panels and a wind generator. A digital camera and laptop for e-mail will enable Le Guen to update his website throughout the endeavor. He is hoping to make 50 miles a day.