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Adventurer

Challenge

Tori’s Website

Tori Murden, American rower

A solo crossing of the North Atlantic Ocean from the United States to France by rowboat.

SECTOR NO LIMITS American Pearl, originally designed for the 1997 Atlantic Rowing Race and constructed for two rowers. Tori’s rowboat is 23 feet long, 6 feet wide and weighs approximately 1,500 pounds fully loaded.

Tori launched from the Oregon Inlet, on the outer banks of North Carolina, on 14 June 1998, at 02:18 p.m. EDT. Her target destination and landfall is the English Channel near Brest, on the West Coast of France in mid-September.

3,616 miles as the crow flies – the farthest distance ever attempted for a North Atlantic crossing.

100 - 120 days

Sector Sport Watches and No Limitsâ Wear

To test the limits of human endurance. "Working to heal the weak and feeble parts of our communities is far more challenging than rowing a boat. But from rowing I gain courage for the job." – Tori Murden

www.oceanrowing.com

www.adept.net/americanpearl

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4 August 1998

Date of Birth

35

6 March 1963

Brooksville, Florida

Louisville, Kentucky

Single

Project Administrator, Empowerment Zone Initiatives for the Louisville Development Authority

Juris Doctor, University of Louisville, School of Law, May 1995

Master of Divinity, Harvard University,

June 1989

Bachelor’s degree, Smith College, May 1985

December 1988 – First woman to climb Lewis Nunatuk in the Antarctic

January 1989 – First woman and first American to ski to the South Pole

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4 August 1998

"Pearls in themselves are things of mystery and adventure; if you follow the career of a single pearl it will give you material for a hundred tales."

-- Isak Dinesen

In redesigning the SECTOR NO LIMITS American Pearl for her trans-Atlantic solo row, Tori Murden’s main concern was stability. French rower Gerard d’Aboville’s travails – capsizing 34 times in the light-weight SECTOR during his trans-Pacific crossing in 1991 – confirmed Tori’s desire for a steady, self-righting rowing boat.

Tori, along with friends Bob Hurley and Noreen Powers, built the original rowboat from a kit during the summer of 1997. The one-off hull design rowboat was constructed for competition in the October 1997 Atlantic Rowing Race – a two-crew, 3,000 mile race from the Canary Islands to Barbados.

Tori and rowing partner Louise Graff were the only American entry, and the only all-female crew. It was tough going for the Americans – after Tori rebounded from an early bout with food poisoning and resumed the race, their communications equipment failed. Tori and Graff were forced to abandon the competition.

Murden, Hurley and Powers consulted with accomplished French seaman Gerard d’Aboville on the design modifications needed for Tori’s solo voyage. The main conversions were simple, but significant: add a dagger board at the front of the craft to help prevent strong winds from pushing the boat laterally; replace the original rudder with a much larger one, a better design for long-range steering.

To help maintain the rowboat’s stability throughout the crossing, Tori chose to load her boat two water ballasts. One tank contains sea water, the other fresh water needed for the voyage. Although 55 gallons of water makes the boat heavy, not to mention difficult to accelerate, the weight enables the boat to "carry her way." SECTOR NO LIMITS American Pearl will plow through conditions that might slow, stop or capsize a lighter vessel. "I’m not chasing a speed record, so the weight is not as significant," says Tori.

SECTOR NO LIMITS American Pearl’s underwater design adds stability. The long keel provides exceptional directional steadiness, making it easier to stay the course. The simple rudder and cable steering device, combined with the boat’s fairly flat "hard chine" underwater shape helps minimize the work load.

SECTOR NO LIMITS American Pearl’s above-waterline design delivers an efficient, reasonably comfortable living space for Tori’s three- to four-month voyage. The egg-crate shape is one of nature’s strongest forms, enclosing maximum volume with minimum materials. The design also offers low wind resistance.

A water-tight bulkhead divides into two parts, each accessible through water-tight storm hatches. A small forward compartment, used for storage, contains communication and navigation equipment. Tori’s sleep space, a cabin in the stern of the boat, is just large enough to accommodate her six-foot frame.

Due to the size of breaking waves Tori will encounter, it is inevitable that SECTOR NO LIMITS American Pearl will capsize during the trans-Atlantic voyage. The cabin-top egg-crate shape gives SECTOR NO LIMITS American Pearl a major design advantage. In an inverted position, the boat is completely unstable and self-rights and self-bails immediately. In pre-launch capsize trials on the Louisville banks of the Ohio River, the rowboat performed perfectly.

SECTOR NO LIMITS American Pearl is made of 3/8-inch marine plywood with fiberglass reinforcing, and includes 6 water-tight compartments. The SECTOR NO LIMITS American Pearl has the following specifications:

Length Overall 23 feet

Width 6 feet

Draft 1 foot, 6 inches

Boat Weight (empty) 800 pounds

Displacement (loaded) 1,500 pounds

U.S.-made carbon fiber oars Three pairs

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4 August 1998

At the heart of Sector Sport Watches, a leading designer and manufacturer of premium sport watches, lies an extraordinary philosophy called No Limitsâ -- a unique approach to life that Sector promotes and celebrates.

The drive to overcome one’s physical, mental and spiritual limits is an internal attitude that transcends global borders. No Limitsâ is a way of life and force of empowerment within us all. When adopted it tests our personal boundaries and opens the door to new levels of achievement in all aspects of life.

The promotion of No Limitsâ is Sector Sport Watches’ mission – the driving force behind every company endeavor. As part of the No Limitsâ concept, Sector sponsors a team of extreme athletes and has created a line of high-performance athletic gear, a magazine, television program and network of extreme sports centers around the world. For Sector Sport Watches, No Limitsâ is much more than a modern marketing concept, it is a way of life.

Since 1989, Sector has committed resources to fully supporting the endeavors of athletes from a variety of extreme disciplines in sport – thus creating The Sector No Limitsâ Team, an international group of more than 20 men and women, comprised of athletes who continue to redefine the limits of human potential. No Limitsâ Team members engage in extraordinary events throughout the year, in the most extreme circumstances, all over the world. Possessing the courage and the will to cross new frontiers, these exceptional men and women embody the purest expression of the No Limitsâ philosophy.

Sector is dedicated to each athlete and each No Limitsâ extreme endeavor from conception to completion. The company provides event development and preparation, logistics support, public relations and marketing.

With each adventure, Sector athletes pit physical and mental determination against the elements to achieve a predetermined goal. In September 1997, expert diver Umberto Pellizzari set the world record in unassisted diving, reaching incredible ocean depths on a single breath. In February 1997, Norwegian explorer Børge Ousland, became the first human to cross the Antarctic alone, covering 1,764 miles on foot in 64 days. And in 1991, French seaman Gerard d’Aboville completed an astounding solo row across the Pacific Ocean, defying nature and his own endurance in a voyage from Japan to North America’s West Coast.

American rower Tori Murden – currently rowing across the North Atlantic Ocean alone and unsupported – faces a similar challenge. As Tori embarks on a 100 to 120 day journey on unpredictable open seas, Sector Sport Watches has the honor of participating in this outstanding episode in the history of human endeavor.

These and other extreme endeavors carried out by Sector No Limitsâ Team members serve as the real world laboratories in which Sector Sport Watches are tested to the limit. Most importantly, the Team dramatically communicates Sector’s No Limitsâ ideal, proving to all that the impossible is attainable.

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4 August 1998

Tori Murden is wearing the Sector Lady Chronograph – the first full chronograph to fit a woman’s wrist – during her 3,616-mile crossing of the North Atlantic Ocean.

The Sector 450 Lady Chronograph is built to withstand the rigors of the extreme endeavor – constructed of highest quality materials, it features a tough, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, a screw-down crown, and double-locking clasp and extender.

The 450 Lady Chronograph has Swiss movement and is water resistant to 660 feet. The watch is equipped with a unidirectional rotating steel bezel and a luminous face for low light conditions. It has a quartz chronograph, with counters for minutes, seconds and 1/10 of a second. The watch displays interim added and total times.

Stringent quality control procedures guarantee the absolute reliability and accuracy of the 450 Lady Chronograph. Sector technicians use "accelerated aging" tests to determine the effective durability of the materials, the performance of the movement, and the resistance to shock, sudden temperature changes and water resistance.

During the four-month crossing, Tori must rely only on herself, her rowboat – SECTOR NO LIMITS American Pearl – and her equipment. Because of its unsurpassed technical credentials and outstanding reliability, Tori has chosen Sector’s 450 Lady Chronograph.

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4 August 1998

Tori Murden is wearing technical gear produced by No Limitsâ Wear. This sportswear is manufactured and designed especially for athletes of the SECTOR NO LIMITSâ Team. Each article supplied to an athlete is tailored to best suite his or her own extreme activity.

Tori’s Shallow Jacket and Shallow Pants are made of high-tech, three-ply, waterproof, and breathable material. Each garment has thermal strips and neoprene wrist and bottom fasteners which are adjustable using Velcro straps. The "Smoke" jacket has a double-seal tranverse-cut neck opening, and the front pockets are made of mesh. Both jacket and pants are cut using the "radial" system to provide maximum freedom of movement.

The Paddle Jacket and Paddle Vest, made of WindStopperâ material, may be used either as protective middle layers or on their own. They are both windproof and breathable, and have elasticized Supplexâ inserts at both the neck and armholes. These inserts provide the wearer maximum protection and freedom of movement. The jacket is designed specifically for sports in which the athlete requires considerable upper-body use.

Tori’s Light Pant and Rub Shorts are made of garbardine Sunfitâ material. Both pairs are easy-fit and wash-and-wear. They have an elasticized waist and a double front pocket and unique rear pocket closure. The pants are designed with pre-roughed knees and the cuffs can be turned up without tailoring. The rub-shorts or Bermudas have an additional large, mesh side pocket with a zipper.

The Sport Top is a tight-fitting, elasticized top made with Sunfit jersey, a material which allows the body temperature to cool, and microfiber lycra. It is ideal for all sports.

The high-tech Breathe Shirt and Breathe Pants are made with "Coolmax" fabric, giving them the outstanding ability to absorb and then expel sweat, ideal for wet-skin and water-sports. The Rower’s model pants have anti-stress back-side reinforcements for added comfort.

Tori has a baseball cap, fingerless gloves and Sunfit T-shirts. All No Limits Wear supplied to Tori was carefully chosen to suite the weather conditions and climate of the North Atlantic Ocean.

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4 August 1998

The SECTOR NO LIMITS American Pearl weighs 1,500 pounds fully loaded. Tori, her equipment and supplies comprise about 700 pounds of the total weight. Food and water for the 100 to 120 day voyage may sound like a lot, but it must all fit into the 20 water tight compartments on board. The safety, navigational and rowing equipment, food, and clothing are critical to Tori’s success, but she’s managed to find a little extra room for a "luxury" or two.

Ballast Tanks

Batteries

Bilge Pump

Binoculars

Boarding Ladder

Bungy Cords

Cabin Ventilator (Solar Powered Fan)

Camera Gear

Deck Compass

Duct Tape

Emergency Handpump

Desalinator

EPIRB

Fiberglass Repair Kit

First Aid Kit

Flares

Fuel

GPS Main and Back-up

Lash Straps

Life Raft

Life Vest with Harness

Lighters

Navigational Charts

Note Books, Pens

Oar Masters

Three pairs of Oars

Parachute Chord

Radar Reflector

Radar with Collision Alarm

Radio Equipment

Sea Anchors

Sewing Kit

Sleeping Bag & Pad

Solar Panels

Orbcom Satellite Communicator

Sunglasses

Toilet Paper

Telephone Gyroscopic Mini M

Tool Kit

Tracking Beacons

Vapor Barrier Bag

Waterproof Stuff Bags

Anti-Fouling Paint

Lap-Top Computer

Classical music tapes

"100 Greatest Books" on tape

Zinc Oxide

4 Containers lip balm

Cat Crap (Sunglasses defogger)

Hand Cream

Water resistant CD player

Water resistant walkman

Wet ones & butt balm

Six bottles of sun block

Toiletries

Stove and Back-up stove

Bowl, Cup, Knife, Spoon

Deep Cooking Pot

Tea Kettle

Water Bottles

Water Maker

1,200 Energy Food Bars

98 Dinners

98 Breakfasts

98 Snacks and Desserts

44 Boxes of Crackers

240 Packets of Powdered Cocoa

160 Packets of Dried Milk

12 Cans of Powder Drinks

4 Boxes of Alacer Emergencee

28 Bags of Herb Tea

16 Packets of Protein Shakes

48 Packets of Soup Mix

7 Jars of Peanut Butter

14 Cans of Tuna

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2 Bottles of Elderberry, Echnicea & Goldenseal

6 Bottles of Vegetable Aminos

2 Bottles Vitamins

3 Bottles of Ultra-juice

1 Bottle of Ginger Trip

2 Bottles of Multi Minerals

1 Bottle of Rescue Remedy

1 Bottle of Arnica Montana

1 Bottle of Vitamin E

Vegelatum

Aqua Sock

Fleece Jacket & Vest

Gloves, fingerless and fingered

Gortex Jacket & Pants

Long Sleeve Synthetic Tops

Neoprene Boots

Pile Booties

Rain Hat

Seal Skin Sock

Heavy Socks

Light Socks

Sun Cap

Sun Protection Shirt

Sun Protection trousers

Synthetic tights

Track Shoes (on foot stretchers)

4 August 1998

"As I said to Gerard d’Aboville (a Sector No Limits Team legend who rowed solo across two oceans) I am the acorn that hopes to become the oak. I am a caterpillar who wants to fly. In other attempts to reach beyond my perceived limitations, whether intellectual or physical, I have never failed to be enriched. If I succeed in rowing solo, the wrong way across the Atlantic, imagine how much more I’ll be able to accomplish when I return to my desk."

– Tori Murden

Victoria E. Murden, known to friends as Tori, embodies the pure spirit of "No Limits" with unlikely ease. In Tori Murden, we uncover a rare athlete who combines a natural sense of humility with an unending desire for personal challenge. Just as unusual is Tori’s aspiration to transform her singular triumphs into tools, perhaps opening doors so that others in need might benefit and expand their own horizons.

Meet American rower and Sector No Limits^® Team member Tori Murden. Born on Mar. 6, 1963, Tori has been active in sports all her life – as an athlete and coach. Her family moved often when Tori was young, and sports helped her feel at ease and fit in. She played college basketball and began rowing competitively at age 19.

Besides organized sports, Tori has long been drawn to Mother Nature’s playing field. "I have this need to balance my urban adventure with rural adventure," says Tori. She is an accomplished climber, having summited Alaska’s Mount Silverthrone, Mount Kenya in Africa and Antarctica’s Lewis Nunatuk – the first-ever summit by a woman. Tori has also completed numerous ice climbing and kayaking expeditions.

And in 1988, during her senior year at Harvard, Tori took three months off between semesters to join the International South Pole Overland Expedition. As part of a nine-member team, Tori skied cross-country

750 miles across Antarctica to the geographic South Pole and became

the first American to accomplish the feat.

In 1991, Tori dedicated herself to intensive training, vying for a spot in single sculls on the 1992 Olympic Rowing Team. On her drive to Camden, N.J. for the trials, Tori was injured in a car accident. Despite being shaken and scrambling to replace her damaged boat, Tori competed in the trials.

Tori admitted to herself that with each race, the effects of the car accident were taking a toll on her performance (following the tryout, Tori discovered she had suffered two broken ribs and a chipped left tibia). At the same time, Tori learned that fellow rower Michelle Knox had broken the riggers (riggers hold the sculls’ oars in place) on her scull and would be forced to drop out.

Tori chose to forfeit her own chance to compete in the Olympics and donate her equipment to Knox. "[Knox] is one of the finest single scullers in the country," Tori said at the time. "The instant I handed [Knox] my riggers, I thought, ‘This is how it is supposed to be. This is why I am here. This is why I trained all that time, so that I could actually be here to do something good for somebody else," said Tori. Knox placed second in the final race that day and went on to compete in the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona.

Tori’s thirst for competitive rowing had not yet been quenched. Last year, she teamed up with high school friend and experienced kayaker Louise Graff to compete in the Atlantic Rowing Race – a 3,000 mile, East to West trans-Atlantic crossing from the Canary Islands to Barbados.

The Murden-Graff team was one of 30 teams entered – the sole American entry, and the only all-female crew.

Tori assembled a team of volunteers to build the American Pearl, and another friend created the American Pearl Web site. The multi-purpose Web site allowed rowing enthusiasts and all of Louisville to follow the teams’ progress. The site also served as a fundraising mechanism for the non-profit Community Foundation of Louisville, and an educational tool for Louisville-area high school students.

Illness and technical problems prevented Tori and Louise from finishing the Atlantic Rowing Race. At the time, Tori already had thoughts of attempting another Atlantic row – this time solo, and from West to East, continent to continent. The West to East route is known as the "wrong way" because of rough seas, contrary winds and prevailing weather in the North Atlantic. Only five rowers – all men – have completed the West to East crossing. If Tori succeeds, she’ll become the first American and first woman to row across an ocean solo and unsupported.

Tori dedicates her life experience, skills and talents to working in areas that are challenging and close to her heart and personal philosophy. The rewards have proved equal to the tasks.

Following high school in Louisville, Tori received a bachelor’s degree from Smith College and a master’s degree in divinity from Harvard University. While attending Harvard in Boston, Tori served as a counselor and chaplain at Boston City Hospital, and also worked on staff at a homeless services center. Tori counts the field work as one of the most difficult yet rewarding experiences she has had.

Tori returned to Louisville and continued working in areas of community service and development. "This will not be a great community for any of us if it’s not a reasonably good community for all of us," Tori says, and local government plays a pivotal role.

From 1992 to 1994, Tori worked as a project coordinator for public policy in the Louisville Mayor’s office. And since November 1994, she has served as project administrator for the Louisville Development Authority’s Empowerment Zone Project. Tori is responsible for planning and implementing multimillion dollar programs designed to revitalize poor and distressed neighborhoods. Tori is on leave from her job with the Louisville Development Authority to attempt her trans-Atlantic row.

Somehow, Tori has tapped into personal reserves and makes time to volunteer for several organizations, make public speeches and coach competitive rowing. She also earned a Law degree from the University of Louisville, and was admitted to the Kentucky bar in October 1995.

Tori’s thoughts on facing three to four months alone at sea:

"I am not sure I will ever be alone – too many statesmen, poets and scholars running around in my head, not to mention friends who will be with me in spirit. I am looking forward to the solitude, because it brings with it a sense of freedom. While I am rowing under the expanse of the sky, I can explore the equally vast expanse of ideas."

"In thinking of solitude, I consider Plato’s parable of the cave. The escape from the cave is a solitary act. It is difficult if not impossible to step out of society with another person at your side.

But in leaving society – leaving the cave – one’s vision improves. It is in solitude that I remember the difference between the shadows on the wall (make money, drive a nice car) and flesh and bone reality (the sum of what we are is more than what we own and what we earn). It is not enough to leave the cave – one must return to make a difference. Otherwise, what’s the point? I could run wild, leaping the fences that limit me living the No Limits philosophy, but if I do not return to open a few gates in the fences for others, I will have missed the meaning of solitude."

"Apart from the times I will be terrified out of my wits, I imagine I will find the solitude reviving. I once wrote about the rebirth of compassion that comes from solitude. It is solitude that reminds me of the importance of fellowship."

Over the last several months, Tori has spent much of her time in Louisville working out, training on the Louisville banks of the Ohio River and preparing the SECTOR NO LIMITS American Pearl for her 3,600-mile endeavor.

"While I subscribe to the notion that limits are for the faint-hearted, the feeble-minded or those lacking in spirit, Sector Athletes form the pinnacle of those who push heart, mind and soul to the far edges of the possible. Whether I will find my own place on this summit remains to be seen," says Tori.

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4 August 1998

Press Office Julie Wellik, Susan Barnes, Kevin Plagman, Shannon Matus