Roz Savage Arrives in Hawaii on Quest to Become First Woman to Row Solo Across the Pacific Ocean

HONOLULU, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Roz Savage, on a bid to become the first woman to row solo across the Pacific Ocean, today arrived in Waikiki, Hawaii, aboard her 24-foot rowboat named The Brocade, after title sponsor Brocade(R) (Nasdaq: BRCD). The milestone is the first on a three-leg journey across the Earth's largest ocean to raise awareness of the plight of the world's oceans. Roz rowed more than 2,900 miles in 99 days after departing underSan Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge on May 25, 2008.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080902/AQTU059)

In early 2009, Roz will continue for another 2,600 miles toTuvalu in the Southwest Pacific, followed by the final leg of her passage toAustralia. If successful, she will have rowed 7,200 miles over three years, and will be the first woman in history to row solo across the Pacific Ocean.

Roz's journey took her through towering waves, dramatic winds, calm days, time for quiet contemplation and an impressive list of books on tape and inspirational podcasts. While chronicling her adventures on her blog, found at www.rozsavage.com, Roz wrote daily about the challenges, the rewards, and the day-to-day details of living in a rowboat and paddling across an ocean. As she approachedWaikiki, sponsors, friends and followers were onshore at the Waikiki Yacht Club to greet Roz for a celebration recognizing her astounding accomplishment.

"If I was any happier I'd burst. It's been a huge challenge with its fair share of problems, but I've made it and I'm grateful to the ocean for allowing me safely across," Roz said. "I really feel like my shore team and I have achieved something special -- we've touched a lot of people through the Web site and the podcasts and got them thinking about their impact on the environment. It's been worth every single one of the million or so strokes of my oars."

Roz's voyage across the Pacific is sponsored by Brocade, a leading provider of data center networking solutions that help organizations connect, share, and manage their information. The environmental endeavor is also a project of the Blue Frontier Campaign, a non-profit marine conservation organization. In addition, Roz is carrying the message of ocean conservation across the Pacific between national marine sanctuaries that are managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Roz, her sponsors, and partners seek to raise awareness about the devastating effect plastic pollution is having on the planet's oceans and marine wildlife.

"Roz's courage and determination will without a doubt inspire others to take on the challenge of protecting our environment," said Michael Klayko, Brocade chief executive officer. "Brocade is extremely proud to be a part of Roz's record-breaking journey and congratulates her on her successful arrival inHawaii."

Roz is no stranger to ocean rowing or setting records. In 2005, she was the only solo woman to compete in the 3,000-mile Atlantic Rowing Race from the Canary Islands toAntigua. She finished the race in 103 days. For Roz, the Pacific row represents an opportunity to communicate the environmental motivation for her adventures, with her efforts focused entirely on calling attention to the importance of marine conservation and publicizing the plight of the world's oceans.

"Roz's unique appreciation of the environment is a lesson to us all. She knows the significance of human impact on the environment and has a firsthand understanding of the physical affects of the wind, waves, and ocean current," said Rick Shema, President of Weatherguy.com who has been providing weather services for the voyage.

"Roz's completion of the first leg of her solo row across the Pacific aboard the Brocade is cause to celebrate. Hers is a bold maritime act of courage, navigation and achievement," said David Helvarg, President of the Blue Frontier Campaign. "At the same time she's providing a cautionary warning that all of us must now become heroes in our own lives, taking action to protect our living seas from plastic and other forms of pollution. If Roz can row across oceans to raise awareness, what can each of us do to protect and restore the seas around us?"

"Roz's Pacific row is a monumental feat of courage and determination. Her accomplishment inspires us all to protect our plant's most valuable resource -- the ocean," said Dan Basta, Director, NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. "Roz's steadfast determination reminds us that we must connect our everyday actions to protecting the ocean."

To learn more about Roz's journey across the Pacific, visit RozRowsTheBrocade.com. For interview arrangements, photo requests, or to secure b-roll, please contact Maayan Katz at Maayan.Katz@OgilvyPR.com or (415) 677-2719.

About Brocade

Brocade(R) (Nasdaq: BRCD) is a leading provider of data center networking solutions that help organizations connect, share, and manage their information in the most efficient manner. Organizations that use Brocade products and services are better able to optimize their IT infrastructures and ensure compliant data management. For more information, visit the Brocade Web site at www.brocade.com or contact the company at info@brocade.com.

About Roz Savage

Born inCheshire, England, Roz Savage uses her ocean adventures to raise awareness of environmental issues and inspire others to rise to their own challenges. In 2005, she was the only solo woman to compete in the 3,000-mile Atlantic Rowing Race from the Canary Islands toAntigua. In 2007, she announced her bid to become the first woman ever to row solo across the Pacific Ocean fromthe United States toAustralia. Roz's book of her Atlantic voyage, One Stroke at a Time, will be published in 2009 by Simon & Schuster. Additionally, a documentary on her adventures, Savage and the Sea, will be produced in three episodes, one for each of the three stages of the row, and eventually a feature-length documentary will be released. For more information, visit the Roz Savage Web site at www.rozsavage.com.

About Weatherguy.com

Weatherguy.com interprets meteorological and oceanographic data for decision makers and applies the knowledge to unique applications. Clients include commercial, government, and expeditionary ventures. For more information, visit the Weatherguy.com web site at www.weatherguy.com or contact the company at weatherguy@weatherguy.com.

About The Blue Frontier Campaign

The Blue Frontier Campaign was founded in 2003 by David Helvarg, author of Blue Frontier: Dispatches from America's Ocean Wilderness. It works to support seaweed (marine grassroots) efforts at the local, regional, and national level, with an emphasis on bottom-up organizing to bring the voice of citizen-activists into national decision-making that will impact our public seas. There are now some 2,000 blue groups working on ocean and coastal conservation but largely operating in isolation, and with little coordinated effort among them. Blue Frontier's mission is to strengthen this constituency through building unity, providing tools, and enhancing public awareness of both the challenges and solutions being offered by these groups to the various threats facing our living oceans. For more information, visit the Blue Frontier Web site at www.bluefront.org.

About the National Marine Sanctuary System

National marine sanctuaries are America's ocean and Great Lakes treasures. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) manages a system of 13 national marine sanctuaries and the Papahaunaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Sanctuaries promote conservation while facilitating compatible commercial and recreational activities, and help preserve our Nation's natural and cultural treasures for future generations. To do this, marine sanctuaries conduct science and education activities and work with the public to manage and protect special areas of the marine environment. For more information, visit www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov.

Brocade, Fabric OS, File Lifecycle Manager, MyView, and StorageX are registered trademarks and the Brocade B-wing symbol, DCX, and SAN Health are trademarks of Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., inthe United States and/or in other countries. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of, and are used to identify, products or services of their respective owners.

SOURCE Brocade

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