World AIDS Day Rowboat Named At Brazilian Day In New York City On Sunday

Online, September 1, 2011 (Newswire.com) - New York City - Victor Mooney will use this boat for his 4th attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean from Las Palmas, Canary Islands to New York City beginning on World AIDS Day - December 1st.

The 19 foot custom made boat was built by Flavio Antonio Rodrigues of Flab - Construção Artesanal de Embarcações and designed by Luis Gouveia of B&J Yacht Design. Mooney, a veteran rower, has lost one brother to AIDS and has another that's HIV+.

"Your fabulous adventure deserves to be supported", said Virginie Muratet of France based CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites), a 24/7 satellite monitoring service company.

Though 75% of Americans living with AIDS are men, Black and Latino women living with AIDS are also on the rise in the U.S. There are more than three times as many Black women living with AIDS in the U.S. than white or Latino women. For women of color, AIDS diagnoses are on an increase and the primary source of transmission is unprotected heterosexual contact and needle-based drug use.

On March 10, 2011, Athens based Diana Shipping Services vessel MV Norfolk, rescued Mooney and brought him to Sao Luis, Brazil after drifting fourteen days in a life raft. Mooney was making his third attempt to row across the Atlantic Ocean to encourage voluntary HIV testing and advocate for prevention. His boat took on water early from hull damage cause during shipping and sunk.

"I wish success in your fourth attempt to cross the Atlantic Ocean, but please know that, in our eyes, you have already achieved something far more lasting and spectacular: you have successfully raised awareness about the ongoing HIV epidemic", said Doctor Kevin Fenton, Director of National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control.

September 4, 46th & 6 Avenue, 1pm, Space #243-244