First leg spans 99 days and 2,900 miles; Roz to continue on to Tuvalu aboard her 24-foot rowboat named The Brocade

Roz Savage, on a bid to become the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean, today arrived in Waikiki, Hawaii, aboard her 24-foot rowboat named The Brocade, after title sponsor Brocade(R). The milestone is the first on a three-leg journey across the Earth’s largest ocean to raise awareness of the plight of the world’s oceans. Roz rowed more than 2,900 miles in 99 days after departing under San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge on May 25, 2008.

In early 2009, Roz will continue for another 2,600 miles to Tuvalu in the Southwest Pacific, followed by the final leg of her passage to Australia. If successful, she will have rowed 7,200 miles over three years, and will be the first woman in history to row solo across the Pacific Ocean.

Roz’s journey took her through towering waves, dramatic winds, calm days, time for quiet contemplation and an impressive list of books on tape and inspirational podcasts. While chronicling her adventures on her blog, found at www.rozsavage.com, Roz wrote daily about the challenges, the rewards, and the day-to-day details of living in a rowboat and paddling across an ocean. As she approached Waikiki, sponsors, friends and followers were onshore at the Waikiki Yacht Club to greet Roz for a celebration recognizing her astounding accomplishment.

“If I was any happier I’d burst. It’s been a huge challenge with its fair share of problems, but I’ve made it and I’m grateful to the ocean for allowing me safely across,” Roz said. “I really feel like my shore team and I have achieved something special — we’ve touched a lot of people through the Web site and the podcasts and got them thinking about their impact on the environment. It’s been worth every single one of the million or so strokes of my oars.”

Roz’s voyage across the Pacific is sponsored by Brocade, a leading provider of data center networking solutions that help organizations connect, share, and manage their information. The environmental endeavor is also a project of the Blue Frontier Campaign, a non-profit marine conservation organization. In addition, Roz is carrying the message of ocean conservation across the Pacific between national marine sanctuaries that are managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Roz, her sponsors, and partners seek to raise awareness about the devastating effect plastic pollution is having on the planet’s oceans and marine wildlife.

“Roz’s courage and determination will without a doubt inspire others to take on the challenge of protecting our environment,” said Michael Klayko, Brocade chief executive officer. “Brocade is extremely proud to be a part of Roz’s record-breaking journey and congratulates her on her successful arrival in Hawaii.”

Roz is no stranger to ocean rowing or setting records. In 2005, she was the only solo woman to compete in the 3,000-mile Atlantic Rowing Race from the Canary Islands to Antigua. She finished the race in 103 days. For Roz, the Pacific row represents an opportunity to communicate the environmental motivation for her adventures, with her efforts focused entirely on calling attention to the importance of marine conservation and publicizing the plight of the world’s oceans.

“Roz’s unique appreciation of the environment is a lesson to us all. She knows the significance of human impact on the environment and has a firsthand understanding of the physical affects of the wind, waves, and ocean current,” said Rick Shema, President of Weatherguy.com who has been providing weather services for the voyage.

“Roz’s completion of the first leg of her solo row across the Pacific aboard the Brocade is cause to celebrate. Hers is a bold maritime act of courage, navigation and achievement,” said David Helvarg, President of the Blue Frontier Campaign. “At the same time she’s providing a cautionary warning that all of us must now become heroes in our own lives, taking action to protect our living seas from plastic and other forms of pollution. If Roz can row across oceans to raise awareness, what can each of us do to protect and restore the seas around us?”

“Roz’s Pacific row is a monumental feat of courage and determination. Her accomplishment inspires us all to protect our plant’s most valuable resource — the ocean,” said Dan Basta, Director, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. “Roz’s steadfast determination reminds us that we must connect our everyday actions to protecting the ocean.”

To learn more about Roz’s journey across the Pacific, visit RozRowsTheBrocade.com. For interview arrangements, photo requests, or to secure b-roll, please contact Maayan Katz at Maayan.Katz@OgilvyPR.com or (415) 677-2719.

Source: Brocade