Peter Bird
Encyclopedia
Peter Bird was a British ocean rower who, in 1983, became the first person ever to row solo across the Pacific.
Bird first became interested in ocean rowing
in 1968 when he read about the Atlantic crossings by John Fairfax
, Chay Blyth
and John Ridgway. Then, while selling silk paintings door to door, he happened to meet Derek King who had just rowed around Ireland
in a small boat. King was planning to row around the world and invited Bird to join him. The two only managed to cross the Atlantic however and having run out of money were forced to return home.
Bird next decided that he would try to row the Pacific solo. He set off from San Francisco on 23 August 1982 having already failed in one earlier attempt in 1982. 294 days later and within a quarter of a mile of the Great Barrier reef Bird was rescued by the Australian Navy.
His partner Polly gave birth to their son, Louis, in December 1991.
On 3 June 1996, as Bird attempted the more difficult West to East row across the Pacific, the Russian Rescue Center picked up an emergency signal from him. A few hours later Bird's badly damaged boat was found with no sign of him.
Bird was a cofounder of the Ocean Rowing Society.
Bird first became interested in ocean rowing
Ocean rowing
Ocean rowing is the sport of rowing across oceans. The sport is as much a psychological as it is a physical challenge. Rowers often have to endure long periods at sea without help often many days if not weeks away. The challenge is especially acute for solo rowers who are held in especially high...
in 1968 when he read about the Atlantic crossings by John Fairfax
John Fairfax (rower)
John Fairfax is a British rower and adventurer who, in 1969, became the first person to row solo across an ocean.Fairfax was born in Italy to an English father and Bulgarian mother. As a child he was expelled from the Italian Boy Scouts for opening fire, with a revolver, on a hut containing other...
, Chay Blyth
Chay Blyth
Sir Charles Blyth, CBE, BEM , known as Chay Blyth, is a Scottish yachtsman and rower. He was the first person to sail non-stop westwards around the world , on a 59-foot boat called British Steel.- Early life:...
and John Ridgway. Then, while selling silk paintings door to door, he happened to meet Derek King who had just rowed around Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in a small boat. King was planning to row around the world and invited Bird to join him. The two only managed to cross the Atlantic however and having run out of money were forced to return home.
Bird next decided that he would try to row the Pacific solo. He set off from San Francisco on 23 August 1982 having already failed in one earlier attempt in 1982. 294 days later and within a quarter of a mile of the Great Barrier reef Bird was rescued by the Australian Navy.
His partner Polly gave birth to their son, Louis, in December 1991.
On 3 June 1996, as Bird attempted the more difficult West to East row across the Pacific, the Russian Rescue Center picked up an emergency signal from him. A few hours later Bird's badly damaged boat was found with no sign of him.
Bird was a cofounder of the Ocean Rowing Society.