over half way
Panatlantic
Fri 4 Jan 2008 14:47
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well we are over half way in terms of mileage which
should have us well over half way in terms of days. one of the most frustrating
things is not knowing when we will finish, sure we could make a prediction but
the way te weather has been anything could happen. before we left people were
saying it was going to be a fast year and the records could be broken. im sure
they could if you were flying over the atlantic, there no way if you are rowing!
the leading pair, although they are from south africa are a couple of really
nice guys. by all accounts they are absolutely flogging themselves and giving
everything to get to antigua as quickly as possible. i am full of admiration for
them and im sure if the conditions were better then they would comfortably break
40 days. as it is they will still make a great time but its likely the record
will elude them.
Pendovy Swift another pair were going remarkably
well but unfortunately got caught in bad weather also. again really nice guys
who are obviously very well prepared.
it would be interesting to know where we would be
had we left on the same day as the rest and not got those few days of bad
weather including a day on the sea anchor. they have unfortunately ruined any
real chance we have of winning the race and yet we are not bothered by that. it
will be such a great achievement to row an ocean that the race is pretty much
irrelevant.
my absolute admiration goes to the two singles who
are presently out here, pete collett and paul atalla. to attempt this challenge
on your own is truely remarkable, there is no way i would even consider it. i
wish them both all the luck in the world and look forward to following their
progress when i get to antigua.
the last couple of days have been tough, the waves
have been nuts and we have been knocked about a lot. for that reason moral has
been a little low although today it has improved greatly. unfortunately niall
got caught in a rather nasty rain storm last night which lasted for about 30
minutes, its very fortunae that its not cold out here. we estimate that we have
a little over 3 weeks left so we are rapidly reaching the end. i expect moral to
get better and better the closer we get to the finish, i know mine will. il be
like a kid at christmas when we catch that first glimpse of antigua! ive already
thought about what il do when i get there
embrace parents
drink beer
shave
shower
shower again
eat
drink beer
drink more beer
try some rum
hmmm maybe a little more rum
sleep for approximately 4 days.
i will be spending very little time in antigua, a
couple of days at the most. that may seem strange to some of you but im so very
keen to get back home to my girlfriend and back to normality asap.
the support from home continues to astound me, i
never knew so many people would follow us with interest. by all accounts we are
getting some good local publicity aswell. celebrity big brother here i come!
lets hope i dont get put in there with someone like jade goody because only one
of us would come out of there alive!
a quick hello to nancy and sandy. annie tells me
that you are following us closely, i look forward to sharing a drink and a few
stories with you after the wedding.
i really must take more time to think about what to
write in my blogs, they must seem rather boring in comparison to miguels. but
then thats all he thinks about.
all the best
james
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