Stein Hoff in his Fox II rowboat leaving the New York harbor
Exhibit features actual items from Stein Hoff’s unbelievable voyage
Key West, Fla. (Jan. 18, 2017) – The Keys are full of boaters who might make a long trip on the water now and then – but not many would dream of attempting a 3,400 mile journey. Alone. In a rowboat.
That’s exactly what Norway’s Stein Hoff did in May of 2016. He left New York City in a 24-foot rowboat on a three-month journey, headed for England, with no support at all. And he did it at 70 years of age!
Items from Hoff’s journey are now on display at Ripley’s Key West Odditorium, including his shirt, shoes, gloves, daily rations, emergency signal device and more.
Ripley’s was a major sponsor for what was dubbed The Unbelievable Voyage. And incredible it was – Hoff was slammed by a major storm three months into his journey.
His boat was battered by 30-40 foot waves and wind gusts as high as 60 mph. His boat was left crippled – 850 miles from shore. He activated his EPIRB, prompting an international rescue effort. After several hours, he was rescued by a cargo ship. Hoff was recreating the 1896 journey of two Norwegian Americans, George Harbo and Gabriel Samuelsen, who were the first people to row across an ocean. Robert Ripley wrote about their feat in his first Ripley’s Believe It or Not! book. This is Ripley’s first exhibit on Hoff’s incredible feat.
Ripley’s Key West Odditorium, located at 108 Duval Street, is open 10 am – 8 pm 365 days a year.
Media contacts:
Rick Culpepper, General Manager
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Key West
305-293-9939
culpepper@ripleys.com
Frank Wolff
407-339-0879
Frank@wellonscommunications.com
About Ripley Entertainment
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Key West is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 14 million people visit its 95-plus attractions in 12 countries each year. In addition to its 32 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in 42 countries. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.
