Rescued were U.S. citizens Jordan Hanssen, 29, and Patrick Flemming, 31, along with Canadian citizens Adam Kreck, 31, and Marcus Pukonen, 30, who were 73 days into the expedition when a rogue wave reportedly caused their 29-foot row boat, theJames Robert Hanssen, to capsize.

FORBES: Rogue Wave Capsizes Trans-Atlantic Ocean Rowers

Julia Gillard, the prime minister, cancelled her Christmas holiday to oversee a tragedy that has reignited a political row over asylum-seekers arriving in Australia by boat.

ECONOMIST: A tragic sinking revives a debate about boat people

And for months the only way in and out of lower Manhattan for most NJ commuters was a ferry ride that instead of going directly across to the WFC was re-routed to South Port and forced to go at row boat speed.

FORBES: 9/11 Stories: 'No One Talks About That'

Henry had hoped for solitude today-an occasion to explore the uncertainties he has had little time to consider while helping his father make pencils in the long sheds behind their home-but he needed a boat for the excursion, and he prefers not to row alone, lest the loneliness remind him that his brother John will never again take a turn at the oars.

NPR: Excerpt: 'Woodsburner'

Nearly two dozen pieces of enchanted art throughout the boat use face-recognition software to prevent delivering the same animation twice in a row.

BBC: Keeping Disney magic afloat