Green Flash and the tricky question of how long 17:35.991N 41:52.361W
Row Across The Pond
Richard Hoyland and Steve Coe
Wed 17 Feb 2010 20:11
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Rich...
Keen as I always am to report on any freaky occurences of
glowing creatures and things in the night sky...last night I saw something quite
beautiful in the sky to the South East. As it was approaching dawn there was a
green flash of light that streaked across the sky...it was bigger than a normal
shooting star and left a defined trail behind it...fabulous
sight...probably a meteorite? and the green colour was from the particular
chemcals in the rock? As you can see...it's all guesswork this blog ;-) a
fact free zone
We've now got 1140 miles to go to Antigua and I am resisting
the temptation to run through expected number of days remaining in my head...so
many scenarios are still left to be played out. It's been a slow crossing and we
have to be prepared for it to take some time yet. We've enough food for around
90 days (but hope to not need anywhere as much as this). The weather forecast is
for 10 days of the same ENE/NE winds/waves which will slowly push us on a direct
course to the finish...but who knows what will come in behind these winds.
Plenty of crews seem to have gone really far South this year...I guess the
trades are stronger but their margin got error is tighter...a few days of
Northerly winds could surely mean they are fighting to get to Antigua at the end
of the race?
Hope all the kids at Eastwick are enjoying their half-term
holiday :-) Ben, Freya and Willow (and of course Lou) have headed up to Wilmslow
to spend time with cousins and grandparents. I called them yesterday for my
weekly chat on the sat phone and being so far away on the end of the line it was
great to hear the buzz that surrounds a family when they get together...you
only realise it when this most simple of pleasures isn't possible. We're asked
the things we most miss about being on the boat and the massive winner for me is
people...we survive without a shower, TV, sofas etc. but the thing that keep me
sane is the people that surround us...fish simply aren't that great at
conversation! (and even worse at riding bikes I understand)
Time to go..the squeaking oars await my attention...one day
they will fall silent and will not be picked up by me ever again...oh happy day
:-)
Steve
Colour of the sea is still blue..
infact talking about the sea, those who have rowed an ocean
before, may have experienced this too,, or it could just be me,, but there
definitely noticeable differences in water density,, some of it may be
relatively easy to explain and others not,, For instance,, you could be rowing
along quite merrily,(well never that happy) when all of sudden the boat gets
sucked downward and blades of the oars get jammed into this primeval soup type
stuff called water,, a few strokes later the boat is released from this suction
like effect and the blades then go into nice free moving water,,This effect is
not unique to just sea rowing, but the reasons for the effect may be quite
varied. Having now reached longitudes of 40 degrees or so we are experiencing
almost the opposite effect of the primevel stuff only now it is like placing the
blades into blamanche where there is little or no resistance,, that is very
forgiving on the back. BUT, if there is no
resistance on the oars I hear you say, then there is nothing to lever the boat
through the water with.. Well all things being equal, (which in an atlantic
rowing race they cetainly are not) we can only hope there is also no
water resistance acting against the boat to, therefore this will move
easier though the water aswell, hold that thought.. All these
phenominas (and more) could be attributed to many things and i
am only guessing as to the reasons why (but i can do that),, it could
be marine life density/concentratio eg plankton, algae. temperature
diiference, salinity concentrations (fish pooh,,,,?) or simply
a mysterious creature playing silly games with my mind...
again...
thats all for
now...............................................................
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