We're off again :-) with a little help?
Row Across The Pond
Richard Hoyland and Steve Coe
Mon 15 Mar 2010 21:12
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Steve...
For the descerning blog reader, I am sure you may have perhaps
noticed we have been a tad deflated (as has Marina) at the lack of progress we
recently were able to make for reasons outside of our control. In spite of
all the good sides to this experience, to be so near yet still not able to
predict a final arrival time in Anigua, there is the 'remote'
possibility we 'miss' our family who we are so keen to see,, the
pressure is sure to get a little hot.
Nature is master 'of all' at the end of the day and will
decide. This was and always will be the situation. In most
circumstances you can alter plans to suit the weather, but in our case we were
powerless and the prospect of being 'held' in this environment and totally at
the mercy of the weather was becoming quite a frustration.. I do believe some of
these pressures had already started by the race being delayed by 1 month, again
due to the weather.
However,this morning we have a reprieve and at 0200 ish,the
sea magnets released their grip on our boat and let it on its merry way, With a
SE wind (proper) we have made excellent ground and this has been a welcome
break. Up to this morning we have had to row in very difficult condtions which i
am sure all other competitors will too have endured. Since starting
writing this, the SE winds have turned south again,, but hey ho..
Speaking of other competitors, I must congratulate (albiet
late) QBE for their most fantastic victory in winning this years race,, Really
Really well done,, Also to the gallant runners up Karakura who pushed QBE all
the way. To all other boat finishers, nevermind theres always next year, but
really well done too!!!!
Well done to Clair ( my wife) for completing the surrey cylce
yesterday as part of her training for the Lands End to John
of Groats race in June this year. The surrey route is plagued with some
serious hills and for that it makes an otherwise 100k seem
more like 100m.. What a Star.... Thanks also to Bob, her personal
trainer for putting her throught the mill... and Graham I suppose too as
back stage support role..
My Jeremy, (aged 7) asked me yesteday during our satellite
phone call if i was skinny now? Although i dont ever remember being particularly
fat, i have to answer that whilst 'i' think i am now very 'lean' (skinny some
might say) there are a few bones starting to show through that i havent really
noticed for sometime.
Fortunately, we do not possess a mirror on board (Other than
our signalling mirror for distress situations, which i hasten to add has come in
very useful for assisting with the now necessary beard trimming ritual).
So how do i know my bones are more evident? Aside from feeling
them,,, it is visible in the refection of the Lap top computer screen when
writing blogs and emails.. just remember Lean and healthy, not skinny,,,,...
My bigger boy Ollie (aged 10).. asked me if we had done
any more fishing and whilst i would like to say yes, unfortunately, believe
it or not the pressures to keep moving at every opportunity has
taken presedence.. Besides which the boat was probably a bit like a
scene from the film the Chain Saw Massacre once we topped,tailed and gutted
the fish. Also, energy being a valuable commodity, on the seemingly many
down times whilst on anchor we chose to lounge around eating cocktails
and drinking champagne...... Thanks also to Tara, my mum-in-law for letting letting Clair
and boys use your phone to call us here yesterday,, must cost a fortune. you can
use our phone whenever you feel like it. oh and just having so much energy
energy and enthusiasm for just about everything.. perhaps you would be a
candidate for and ocean row. you did win that ergo competition easily if i
remember rightly,, The Indian Ocean awaits!!!!!.. they'll be some history
in the success of that im sure...?
I know I am not back yet, but must express my thanks to Simon
(my business partner) for keeping things going whilst away,, must have been an
equal (or even greater) challenge as this to keep going!!!!... Cheers...
buy you a pint in your local on the green..
Rich...
I'm not counting any chickens but quite like the idea of
having some winds to help us along to the finish line...this would make a
pleasant change to the rest of the race...which was quite a changeable
affair! We've just come off the back of a night shift with some SE winds pushing
us along at a good rate of knots and it's the first time for a while that I
believe we will see our families in Antigua. We are 321 miles from the
finish and should dip under the 300 mark today if the winds stay firm in the
same direction. That means just nine days of average rowing from this point to
get to Antigua...so the 24th March could be a long shot if the weather stays
fair for the next period...pray to the weather gods.
Last night it was unbelievable for a period of time that the
winds had turned East as we have been in our own weather pocket for the last
week with very strong southerlies all the way.
Hans, if your prediction is correct then a good week this week
will see us break the back of the mileage by Sunday...fingers crossed, there's a
bottle on Antiguan rum or two on it if correct....
Marian, thanks for the support and calling on higher
powers to help us out, it might just have worked? :-)
Lou and the little ones, keep all your fingers and toes
crossed...I will see you on the quayside or wear my hands off trying to get
there
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