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

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

Having designed and built the boat, they must then try to row it across a lake.

CNN: , for

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'

We initially opted for the boat, but foul weather caused its cancellation two days in a row.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | 'There Was Method to My Madness'

In 2009, he was part of a team that attempted to row the South Atlantic Ocean in under 30 days, but the boat lost its rudder and they were forced to postpone the attempt.

BBC: Irish climber Ian McKeever killed on Mount Kilimanjaro

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

According to their website the team was attempting to row unassisted across the Atlantic Ocean, a daring 3569 nautical mile journey, using human power to propel the boat, and solar and wind power to charge its instruments.

FORBES: Rogue Wave Capsizes Trans-Atlantic Ocean Rowers

Japanese coastguards have detained a Chinese boat for allegedly fishing in a Japanese exclusive economic zone illegally, officials say, amid an ongoing row over disputed islands.

BBC: Chinese boat ��illegally fishing in Japanese waters��