That Didn't Take Long

I just read about this guy's plans this morning. Now, it's over.

A New Yorker's attempt to become the first black American to row solo across the Atlantic ended when his homemade boat sprung a leak hours after he left the coast of Africa Sunday.

Victor Mooney radioed for help after his boat started taking on water, according to a press release on his Web site. He was rescued by the Senegalese navy, but the 24-foot craft he built for the journey sank into the ocean.

The boat was made of what Mooney called "marine grade plywood."

Mooney — a 41-year-old college publicist who had been preparing for the trip for three years — could not immediately be reached for comment. The press release said he will return to his home in New York.

Local authorities said Mooney was not hurt but did not sound likely to try the trip again.

If he gives up that easily, it's unlikely that he would have had the stamina to finish it in the first place.

Mooney had said his voyage was to raise awareness of AIDS in Africa and memorialize the route that took African slaves to the Americas.

I'll let you fill in the rest.