On the verge of getting our passports stamped

Row Across The Pond
Richard Hoyland and Steve Coe
Fri 1 Jan 2010 18:47
Tonight we handed our passports over to the race organisers for them to be handed over to the port authorities to be stamped. After the frustrations of the past month this is an important development as it means we are definitely going on Monday 4th January. The weather is smiling on us, the waves are calming down and a massive high pressure is in place over the North Atlantic....the weather picture is the last I will be posting...a huge sigh of relief from you all ;-)
 
We had the pleasure of witnessing New Year in Gomera and they certainly put alot of effort into it...at 11:45 half the town of San Sebastien pour down to the town square for fireworks and live music until 6:30 in the morning. When I went down for the daily race meeting the bar in the town square had only just closed! Most of the rowers were down in the square and the infamous Blue Marlin (the hangout of Atlantic rowers over the years).
 
So, it's 100% happening this time. The next two days are full of final preparations before we slip our moorings on the 4th Jan, hopefully never to return to Gomera (well at least not with a rowing boat). Next stop the middle of the Atlantic.    
 
[today's blog is by Richard]  
 

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