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After 3,450 nautical miles, Anne Quéméré crossed the Ile de Ouessant, west of her native Brittany at 6:45 pm (local timeon) on Sunday August 13, completing her 55 day Kite crossing of the North Atlantic.

Heavy seas on arrival

Due to heavy sea going cargo ships in the area, Anne home crew opted to have her towed in.

“At dawn, weather conditions became extremely difficult,” said the two time ocean rower upon crossing the finish line. “North-East wind with 30 knot squalls, accompanied by heavy seas and strong currents close to the “Ile de Ouessant” increased the safety risks,” said Anne’s home crew.

“The Connétable 2006 Challenge was a true achievement in all fields,” they added.

Tougher than paddling

Despite being slowed by long periods of calm during the 55 day crossing, the Kites worked well and provided the ocean explorers with a new challenge. Anne admitted, however, that this challenge had been more difficult than her previous two expeditions on the Southern Atlantic in 2003 and the Northern Atlantic in 2004, where she rowed the entire distance.

Two time ocean rower Anne Quéméré (she’s rowed the Atlantic both ways solo) began her crossing on June 18th, 2006. Her goal was to Kite the North Atlantic solo, from Atlantic Highlands (near New York) to France. Anne crossed starting line of Ambrose Light in Lower New York Bay, attempting to cross the North-Atlantic on a small 5 meter vessel pulled along by Kites of various sizes. She completed the crossing solo, without any support.

According to Anne’s technical team, the biggest obstacle in front of her, apart from the usual cargo ships and whales off the coast of New-York, was Hurricane season, which began June 1. According to the NOAA, the 2006 north Atlantic hurricane season is going to be an active one. Experts predict 13 to 16 named storms, with eight to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which four to six could become 'major' hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher.

Born in Brittany, France, Anne Quéméré grew up by the sea. She moved to the US in the early 1990’s, living in Louisiana and New York before going back to her native Brittany in 2001 where she practices sailing and rowing on a traditional skiff built by her father. Anne rowed the Atlantic from East to West in 2003 and from West to East in 2004.