7 Jan, 06 – 21:44
For GPS position, race position and miles from La Gomera, see http://www.atlanticrowingrace.co.uk
I hear that All Relative are about to arrive in Antigua. Well done, the boys from Beer! Lucky they had me to keep them on their toes, eh?
Some questions from a regular texter:
Q: what has surprised you most so far?
A: how flippin’ hard this is! I thought I was really well prepared, and I knew it would be hard, but not THIS hard. But I’m still here and still rowing, so I guess I must be up to it – if I wasn’t at the start, I am now.
Q: will you be a little sad when this is over?
A: at the moment I don’t even know how I’ll feel tomorrow, let alone when I reach Antigua, so hard to say. At the moment I think my overriding feeling will be relief, but who knows, maybe there will be a tinge of sadness, and a bit of nostalgia for the solitude and the independence.
Q: how is the spare tyre?
A: cheeky! Since Sid the sea anchor came back on board and I stopped lazing around eating chocolate all day, I think the spare tyre has deflated somewhat. Let’s hope so, because the bag of clothes my mother is bringing out to Antigua won’t fit me otherwise!
Other stuff:
The weather continues rough but favourable here. The incredible bendy oar gave up the ghost today and has been relegated to guardrail duties.
Still can’t get the Simrad navigation instrument working – checked the connections (see photo) but no joy. Suspect water inside, as display all steamed up. Pain, because without knowing my speed over ground I don’t know what rowing techniques are working and what aren’t. Stereo has also ceased to function – again, suspect water to blame. Can only hope things may work again if/when they dry out.
Thanks for all the texts: Sorrel, Pauline, Mark R, HSS, Sam K (thanks for reassurance on technique), John T, R Westcott, Richard Y & Penny, Eddie-Lee, MBE Putney, and two blasts from the past – John Wild and Duncan Coneybeare.
A good question from John W: ‘100 days solitary confinement and hard labour – what did you do wrong?!’
Wind: E to NE, force not known Weather: sunshine and showers
Sea state: rough
Hours rowing: 9