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Since 1977

News and Notices

Jet Delivery Systems, Inc. transports French rowboat

insured by France for $1,000,000.00

November 1991

Jet Delivery Systems, Inc. (JET) is hired by Air Express International (AEI) to pick up a small boat in Astoria, Oregon for delivery to Air France, Seattle, Washington.

That "boat" was the 26-foot ocean going rowboat Sector, rowed by Gerard D'aboville. The boat started its Pacific journey in the small Japanese harbor of Chosi, 300 Kilometers from Tokyo on July 11th and ended November 21, 1991, in Ilwaco, Washington, USA. That is 134 days, 12 hours, 15 minutes to cover 6,200 miles! This is the FIRST SOLO West-East trans-Pacific Ocean Crossing (See Ocean Rowing Society) and Mr. D'aboville is the only man to have successfully rowed BOTH the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. The boat is considered by France a national treasure and is now in a museum there.

Two JET drivers, Ed Kamish and Bill Landry were sent to pickup the boat on behalf of AEI & JET. Mr. Landry, who speaks fluent French, delighted the French entourage, most of whom spoke no English.

Also present for the occassion were David Palmer, AEI; Mr. Lee Johnson, President, Jet Delivery Systems, Inc.; and Jeff Maher, Systems Administrator and sometime photographer. The project was supposed to be over by mid-morning, but ended up taking most of the day.

The day was typical Oregon Coast winter - overcast & wet. It sprinkled off and on all day long. Jet's party met early that morning at the Shiloh Inn, Warrenton, Oregon, where Mr. d'Abovile had spent the night. The plan was to then go to Astoria, pick up the boat, and take it to Seattle. However, the boat was at the Columbia River Maritime Museum's Dock and would be lifted by crane onto a specially fitted cradle for transport. The crane had not arrived as yet, so Mr D'aboville answered questions calmly in the auditorium of the Maritime Museum.

There was much discussion about how the boat was to be raised from the water and onto the flatbed trailer. Straps were secured about the boat and it was lifted very carefully out of the water and positioned just as carefully onto the flatbed. This process took over two hours. Once the boat was secured, pictures were taken all round and some bottles from Mr. D'aboville's own vineyard in France were presented. The boat started its journey back to France, delivered safely to Seattle by Jet Delivery Systems, Inc.