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Solo adventurer says she's relieved to be back on land

By the CNN Wire Staff
updated 7:04 AM EDT, Tue June 12, 2012
British adventurer Sarah Outen is seeking to become the first woman to row solo across the North Pacific. British adventurer Sarah Outen is seeking to become the first woman to row solo across the North Pacific.
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STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Sarah Outen tweets a picture of herself from a Japanese hospital
  • Outen was attempting a round-the-world solo journey when her boat was damaged
  • She was rescued by the Japan Coast Guard, though her boat is still at sea
  • Another solo British rower is also rescued

(CNN) -- A British adventurer rescued after a failed attempt to sail solo around the globe says she is relieved to be back on land.

Sara Outen tweeted a photo of herself late Saturday from a Japanese hospital where she is undergoing evaluation after the nation's coast guard rescued her when her boat became disabled.

"Relieved to be back on land and with friends," Outen tweeted.

Outen began her solo circumnavigation April 1, 2011, in London with plans to cycle, row and kayak more than 20,000 miles. She hoped to finish in London in autumn 2013.

2011: British adventurer on 20,000-mile trek
A poster encouraging people not to give up nearly one year after Japan was shattered by an earthquake and tsunami A poster encouraging people not to give up nearly one year after Japan was shattered by an earthquake and tsunami
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Volunteering in Ishinomaki, Tokyo Volunteering in Ishinomaki, Tokyo

She was traveling alone when her boat was damaged during a tropical storm, rolling several times. A nearby merchant vessel and a coast guard plane kept watch on her until the rescue ship arrived.

Outen kept followers apprised of her ordeal in real time, tweeting from sea: "Focusing on calm trying2 block out wind and waves. Visualizing family and friends pulling us in."

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She was rescued Friday, though rough waters made it impossible for the Japan coast guard to tow her boat Gulliver back to port.

"As expected, due to adverse sea conditions, it was not possible to tow Gulliver back to land.," Outen's support team, London2London, said in a blog post Saturday. The team was "looking at options regarding Gulliver."

Outen was halfway to her goal when her boat was damaged. Her team says she has cycled and kayaked more than 11,000 miles, going through countries including Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and China.

Meanwhile, a second solo British rower who was stranded about 280 miles northeast of where Outen was found has been rescued, according to his website.

Charlie Martell was attempting to row 6,000 miles across the Pacific when his boat was disabled by the same tropical storm that damaged Outen's Gulliver.

He was rescued late Friday by a Russian crew, his website said.

"Charlie spoke briefly to his support team to confirm that he is in good shape and uninjured, following a 36-hour wait since issuing the mayday signal," according to a posting on his website.

CNN's Kyung Lah in Tokyo contributed to this report.

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