1st week completed...............
Red Arrow
Rich Hume & Tom Barnes
Mon 11 Jan 2010 14:16
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We survived our first week and it really has
flown by. Although, we're not popping out the champers yet as I
heard a very sobering fact just before we left La Gomera. Of the 8
independent (not part of the Woodvale race) ocean rowing boats that
attempted to row from La Gomera to Antigua in 2008, only 1 boat made it
across without being rescued! We're about a tenth of the way across and making
good progress and touch wood we've no major structural or electrical problems
and Red Arrow is performing like a true legend. Rich and I
are both in good spirits, Rich is back to full health and we're still on
speaking terms which is a bonus!
I hear the UK is still is a cold spell so I though
I'd do some weather gloating.............I'm currently looking out of my
luxurious cabin and I can see nothing but clear blue sky and bright
sunshine - which seems to be burning Rich as we speak! It's probably knocking on
30 degrees with a nice breeze so our biggest decision of the day is what factor
sun cream to use.
Since I've been at sea I have lots of
time to think and this race really is unusual for a number of
reasons;
1. It costs £15,000 to enter - I thought the
London Marathon was expensive at £50!
2. There is no set route that every team must
follow - we should have gone East and circumnavigated the globe to get our
money's worth!
3. We don't know what position we are in until
we receive an email/text update. Although we are technically online via our sat
phone we can't browse websites so are depending on Dad to update us with
the headlines.
4. You could overtake a competitior or be
undertaken and not be aware of it at all. Overnight we gained 5 places on
the leaderboard and we didn't see another boat. We can only see as far as
the horizon which is about 6/8 miles at our boats height so we could
now be overtaken but not see the boat - weird!
5. There is no prize money for the winning boat.
Whether you come first or last you all get the same glass trophy.
Anyhow, I thought I'd update you on how the old
body is shaping up;
Hands
- Doing okay although blisters have formed all
over although the Blister Stick is really helping - thanks
Rachel. Kakadu kangaroo (sorry Laura) gloves are working
well. We're using the Oarsome Potential (from Dragons Den) which seem to
relieve the pressure too.
Feet
- No problems at al thanks to the Yacht Boot Company. Jo
Harris - you'll be pleased to know I've ditched the Crocs but check out my new
bad boys - Sharx shoes!
Bum
- the worst of the 3. Mild nappy rash developed and quite
spotty. I've started wearing Granuflex (basically giant cushioned plasters for
each bum cheek) today and this has helped already. Great
recommendation Oly Dudley.
Nose
- burnt..........it might be because it sticks out a fair
bit!
Enough from me - rowing to do.
Antigua here we come!
Barnesy
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