Deceptive weather

Row Across The Pond
Richard Hoyland and Steve Coe
Tue 8 Dec 2009 23:58
Today has been another day of being 'busy', seemingly doing nothing, which is a skill in its own right.. There is a boat (sailing) in the harbour called 'Never Ready' and this is quite an apt name. Forgive me if i seem to be repeating myself but it may be something to do with our circumstance. There is always something to do on a boat, but this becomes only apparent when you face up to the reality of any pending voyage, everything has its place, needs to be secured, accessable and also in an order of prioroity??? So whilst we were ready for the off on sunday and likewise for tomorrow, we now have to busy ourselves for a unspecified (well nearly) time..... At a meeting this morning we were advised that a weather front due to hit the area on Saturday would compromise a safe start for the rowing fleet. Perhaps a little further clarification is needed.. the Rowing fleet consists of 4 different classes of boats; solos, pairs, fours (and 1x 12 man boat which isn't really part of the race). The fleet has two safety boats which will patrol the fleet as they spread themselves many (hundreds) miles apart as we/they proceed towards Antigua. The island (El Hiero) approx 60 miles from where we start is an obstacle we need to clear with room to spare. The deployment of the safety vessels is something to be avoided so the the boats have to leave together to clear this first challenge en mass. The solos are 'likely' to be the slowest boats and we need to go when they will be able to safely clear the island so as not to split the safety role of the support vessel.
Our ETD as of this morning was monday/tues/wed/next week.. hmmmmmf.. however since this mornings meeting the frontal depression may have collapsed a little, but not far behind another is forming.. I know this may sound like excuses but beleive me we want to go to. Meanwhile we will continue to look for more things to do on the boat... 'no fear' and always never ready!!! we will keep you posted and sorry for not getting this news out earlier... By the way, it was an absolute scorcher today... calm before the storm, perhaps?