Cruise ship to the rescue! Queen Mary 2 delivers supplies to solo woman rower

Two very different vessels have come face to face in the mid-Atlantic as part of a daring attempt to assist Canadian solo woman rower Mylène Paquette.

The brave adventurer - who aims to become the first North American woman to row solo across the Atlantic - met with Cunard's Queen Mary 2 in the middle of the ocean on Thursday as the cruise ship dropped off some vital supplies.

Mylène, who is 83 days into a voyage from Halifax, Canada, to Lorient, in France - and still has two months to go - needed to replace some lost items after being hit by the remnants of Atlantic Storm Humberto.

Enlarge   Mylène Paquette

Atlantic adventurer: Mylène Paquette needed some key supplies after being hit by a storm

She issued a request to assist after losing her satellite phone and anchor, among other essential items, and the Queen Mary 2 swept in to save the day, preparing a package of items - including a few luxuries for the rower.

The ship, which is mid-way through a sailing from New York to Southampton, met with
Mylène's tiny rowing boat at 1pm UK time at 46 degrees 49.9 minutes North, 034 degrees 53.1 minutes West, to make the delivery, at first circling the rowing boat to calm the waters so it could drop four watertight canisters into the sea.

Passengers swarmed the deck to catch a glimpse of the rower and the radio conversation held between the Queen Mary 2 and Mylène was relayed to them via the ship's public address system.

RMS Queen Mary 2

Rescue vessel: Queen Mary 2 prepared a package of key supplies for the rower after she requested assistance

There were cheers as the ships whistle sounded and Mylène collected her supplies from the water, donated by the cruise vessel. They include a new satellite phone and two drogue anchors (sea anchors which hold the boat's position when it is not being rowed).


Luxury extras such as soap, shampoo and body lotion - ad a postcard of the Queen Mary 2 - were also packaged up with useful items including duct tape and a scraper to remove the barnacles underneath the boat.

Mylène Paquette

Onward journey: With her anchor and satellite phone, Mylène Paquette will now be able to continue her challenge

Captain Kevin Oprey, Master of Queen Mary 2, said: “We are happy to have given assistance to Mylène and help her recover from the damage inflicted by the storm. We wish her the very best of luck with her solo Atlantic rowing adventure.”

Mylène said: “This is a dream come true! For me to see the Queen Mary 2 in the middle of the Atlantic is something I would have never hoped for. I want to thank all of the members of the crew for making this encounter happen."