Extreme Rowing

Rough 7min video now on You Tube

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lybOHaPTd8A  follow this link to view a very rough little video I put together for a talk that Cath and I gave. Please note that this is by no means a finished product and is just to give you an idea. The full and final version is yet to come.
Margaret

Videos up

You can view a small selection of footage from the trip online at http://www.flickr.com/photos/10897478@N07/

am an idiot

Lovely picture of Harvey, but forgot to put down what manner of beastie he was.  Apparently he's a Storm Petrel ( alledgedly one of the most common birds across the Atlantic, but am still convinced it was Harvey all the way over )   Seems like the Go Commando boys had a "Harvey" as well, but he was called Dave.  Not sure my Ipod's gonna like that !

Cath

This is Harvey !!

Update 20th Feb 2008

Greetings all

Have been told that our Just Giving page has expired. Am trying to get it reopened. Please keep checking as we need to make all the donations that we can get for our chosen charity, Leonard Cheshire Disability.

Woodvale have posted some piccies of the finish. You can view them on the photo gallery page at www.atlanticrowingrace2007.co.uk

Cath

2 days after race finish

I have never pushed so hard in my life. After doing a massive 24hour push for the finish line we arrived at the mouth of English Harbour amidst a huge swell and strong winds which were determined to push us back out to sea. Because we only had one functional rowing seat left we took turns - Cath rowed the last few miles to the finish and then I took over and tried to row us from the finish into the harbour. I managed to get us near the entrance but the conditions were so strong that I found myself going nowhere so Cath, seated on a makeshift piece of foam, joined me. I never again in my whole life want to spend over an hour rowing into a harbour rating 30 (the pace we do 1000m races at) with a partner whose seat doesnt move against strong winds in a 1 tonne boat. It was one of the hardest parts of the race. But the moment we had moored up all of my frustration melted away. I almost didnt dare look up it was so overwhelming seeing people again, let alone a huge crowd cheering at you as you try desperately not to sway and wobble too much. I stood there feeling a bit dazed for a moment and then my aunt appeared out of the crowd and gave me one of the best hugs of my entire life. She then whipped out a bag of freshly cut pineapple pieces and I was in heaven. After lots of photos and hugs and congratulations I got away and went back to the hotel for my first shower in two and a half months. More heaven! We then wandered around English Harbour for a bit and had a drink with Simon and Amanda followed by dinner with one of the other rowers Angela and her friend Debbie. Although I was quite tired and needed an early night I couldnt believe how well I felt, I still cant believe how well I feel. My aunt says I looked the healthiest rower to arrive and someone else said it was a testament to my fitness so all the training on the river over the past couple of years clearly paid off. Two days later and the only problem is some stiffness in my calves which will soon be resolved with a bit of yoga and some swimming.

After a good nights rest I woke at dawn and went straight down to the boat and started sorting things out. I pulled out all of our mountains of rubbish and took everything I needed for St Martin and then shortly after lunch my aunt and I flew back to St Martin. My beautiful cousin Tania was at the airport to greet us and gave me some lovely roses. I am being so well looked after here and my cousins are both crazy mad sailors who know many of the top French racing crews so they are really excited to hear my stories and compare notes about life at sea. Tomorrow is Dans birthday party so we are taking the dingy out to Tintamare for a big party with family and friends. So I am in good hands and will return home very well rested and ready for the next adventure that life throws my way - Angela has already asked me to do the Indian 2009 with her...

I will post photos in the next couple of days once Ive sorted through the millions that I took.

Margaret

DAY 74 Antigua

Greetings bods! Oh my god oh my god oh my god!!! We are here :@)))))))))) Huge apologies for the delay in getting to you all, but it’s just so bloomin’ exciting and so much emotion. I will write more when I get home, shortly after 22nd Feb ( hopefully, if BA manage to come through with the flights they’ve promised ), but I’m afraid for now, I will be enjoying the sights of beautiful Antigua and relaxing with my folks and Chris. We had an eventful landing, amid a 30 foot ocean swell and gusting 32knot winds, the sea didn’t want to let up will the very last minute. I’m very glad we came in during the day, as handling that weather in the pitch dark is not a bag of fun at the best of times let alone when you’re trying to navigate the rocky coastline of an island. ABSAR ( Antigua and Barbuda Search and Rescue ) sent out the launch to us about a mile and a half from the finish line, and they stayed with us all the way to English Harbour which was about another 1 mile further round the coast. The problem was that “it” was literally hanging on by a strap and the swell & wind made it rather tricky to point the right way. We slightly overshot the entrance to English Harbour and had to then turn and battle the headwind. From the time you cross the finish line you can be towed in by the ASBAR launch, but when offered this, the reply was a rather determined “NO, not on your life”. I had my first uninterrupted 9hr sleep last night, no wind or rain blowing in my ear, no “Sea-me” beeping telling me there’s a ship about to run me over, no cramped cabin with salt encrusted mattress, and most importantly, I had dry feet for the 1st time in oooh, more than I can remember. I still have the land wobbles, but no nausea which is great, means I can drink more booze and just blame it on the land sickness. I would like to say such a massive thankyou to everyone who has taken the time & effort to send us messages and read this blog. Your contact was so vital to us, I’m not sure we would have stayed quite so sane without it. Could I please ask something further of you though? If you have enjoyed following this adventure and you haven’t donated to our charity, please would you consider donating a small amount via our website? £10 is less than a round of drinks in the pub, and the more tenners we can get the better. When I get home, I will be sorting out an online gallery for the photo’s we have. Margaret also had video shots which I’ll try and get hold of. So check here in a few weeks and have a laugh. Bye for now, just think of all the spare time you will all have now “Atlantic Jack’s” little adventure is over, no more blog to occupy that time when the boss isn’t looking at work. Much love & thanks, Cath X

DAY 72, 8.30pm, 17'04N 060'27W

Greetings and "almost finished" salutations!!

We are both bouncing off the cabin walls with excitement, as I write, we are 77.9nm away from Antigua.  Apparently we'll be able to see it at around 30nm distance.  The water has slowed considerably and each stroke is now heavier, not so good when you're operating at your limits anyway, but we'll get there!

"It" decided to break again this afternoon, quite a bad one too, the bottom fabric bracket and bolt have now disapeared, and the rudder was lying completely on it's side when I looked to see why the hell I was having such problems stearing.  But, once again, we have factioned a repair (will have to write to Collins to get "faction" put in dictionary, perhaps the definition should be " to bastardise in the face of adversity"), and we are on our way.  It really only has to last less than another 48hr, so a bit more praying to the PTB please, perhaps some sacrifices??

My parents flew out to Antigua today, and Chris flies t/m, so it looks like everyone will be there except me.....get the beers in, I'm on me way.

Sorry so short, but have to try and get some rest, although is very difficult to sleep at the finish of something like this.  Margaret told me yesterday that we'd been out here for 10 weeks, I would say it doesn't seem that long but I'd be lying through gritted teeth.

Cath X

PS one nearly new orange ocean rowing boat for sale, one careful lady owner, handles well, no insurance required...will need new rudder

'

Well an uneventful cruise into the finish was never going to happen in this boat now was it? In addition to the rudder almost flopping off today last night we had a rather interesting encounter with a large ship. We saw it's lights on the horizon and could not make out which direction it was heading and which side of the boat we could see, always a cause for concern as it could be headed straight for you. Previously our radar system would have picked up it's signal and given us it's course and position but with that out of action we had no way of knowing what was going on. So we began trying to hail it on the VHF. I tried, and tried, and tried for at least 10mins (a long time when these ships can be upon you from horizon to boat within the space of 15mins). Finally we decided to let off a flare and as I was holding it up Cath started a mayday call out on the VHF. FINALLY someone responded and very slowly and lazily told us that he wasn't on a collision course with us. He clearly heard all of our VHF calls and it took a mayday call to get him to answer so if you ever encounter the good ship 'Sigura', she is actually a bad ship with a very stupid captain. But at least I got to let off a flare. Had been waiting for an opportunity to do that all trip!

This morning I had the most fantastic dawn shift. Not only did I see a fab sunrise and a rainbow but also had a huge grey whale breached the water about 50 yards from the boat. It just popped up, spurted once and then was gone. It was easily the size of the boat and quite beautiful. Then I was followed for about half an hour by a fantastic white bird with a long thin flappy bit extending out from it's tail similar to a jaegar. It kept doing loop the loops around me and then coming back and hovering 20ft above me just checking me out. Then it disappeared for a while and when it returned it had it's friend the mega sized gull with it. So strange for two birds of different species to be chilling out together like that. They both circled the boat and flew very low directly overhead before disappearing off on their little fishing trip for the morning. Then shortly afterwards I saw not one but two teradactyl birds. Quite a morning! I had been sitting there feeling a bit sad that this amazing journey was almost over but at the same time was having one of those moments where you just soak it all in and your heart swells with the joy of it all and you can't help but say a little prayer of thanks. That is not to say though that I am not looking forward to the finish. I REALLY REALLY am!!! Am so excited. I also can't wait to then have a holiday in St Martin with my aunt and her family and my cousin Nick is also flying out from London on Friday and will spend some time there with all of us too which is excellent.

My leg muscles are really starting to feel the burn now but not far to go. It'll all be worth it once I put foot on dry land again.

Margaret

DAY 71

Greetings faithful supporters,

Apologs for no blog yesterday, we are what is known in the rowing circle as "beasting it", so we are both a bit bloomin knackered. I'll keep it brief, the thing that shall be known as "it" is still hanging in there, we are not sure whether it will need a last minute fix to get us into Antigua, but until the thing falls apart, we aint touchin' it, we dont' even like looking at it. We've never been ones to try and anticipate arrival times as so many things have conspired to slow us down, but now we are counting down the miles 1 by 1. Marg thinks its going down really fast but it's slower than evolution for me.

I now can't wait to get off this boat. It was topped off last night just as I came onto the 12-2am slot, as I sat on the rowing seat, the blades were safely crossed in front of me. I turned round to find my water, turned my head back and got the full force of the blade handle coming at me in my right eyeball...it smarted slightly I can tell you, it also dislodged my contact lens, good job I had a spare. Although putting in lenses in a very rocky boat wasn't a bag of laughs either.

I think we saw Harvey for the last time yesterday. He's been markedly absent for a good few days now, but made a brief & manic appearance yesterday. Perhaps this is as far as goes on his turf, perhaps he "don't do them island tings", a bit like a cabby who wont go "sowf of the river" after 10pm. I'll miss his little sojourns alongside our boat, he's been a faithful companion all the way across and has always made me smile.

Gonna try and get some kip now, all we seem to be able to do is row, sleep and eat stacks...we can't seem to get enough food down our throats at the mo.

Please keep the messages coming, these remaining shifts are getting tough.

Cath XX

DAY 69, 5.30pm, 17'07N 057'53W

A slightly earlier blog than usual. It's almost 35 degrees in the cabin so I can't sleep. We can't open the back hatch because the waves are too big and we have a jacket over the cabin door to keep out the sun, which is blasting straight in so again that is only cracked a bit and it's a total sweatbox in here! Also I know that next shift I will need to sleep for sure. We have been going at race pace for almost 48 hours now and it's starting to take it's toll. Cath is feeling pretty exhausted and my shoulders and thighs are starting to feel pretty fatigued. The next 4-5 days will probably be the toughest physical challenge I have ever faced. We are really laying down the power and have no intention of stopping until we hit land. When I push myself this hard I often find I start to slow down so I am having to stay really focussed and make every stroke count. We are both tapping into years of experience rowing competitively and are really digging deep. And boy is it paying off. We are absolutely flying. It's so exciting to see us chomping through the miles on the GPS and I can really taste the finish once more. We have upped our calorie intake and I am carefully monitoring how I feel each session and making sure I am fueling this madness as best I can.

The really exciting news though is that we were visited by a school of about 8 spotted dolphins this afternoon who stayed with us for about half an hour. They were just hanging out beside the boat, occasionally going off to surf a wave and then coming back again and diving under the bow. Poor Cath was so tired she didn't stick around for the whole display but I caught it all as it was during my rowing shift. I have to admit that racing went out the window for a bit as I rushed about the boat trying to film them. Speaking of water creatures Cath had her first encounter with a flying fish last night, which flew square into her back. She said it felt like a tennis ball.

In the past 24 hours we have had a number of signs that land is getting closer. Yesterday a huge gull appeared overhead and hovered up above us for a while. I was a bit worried he might try and poo on my head but fortunately he didn't stay THAT long. Then today a thin trail of old plastic bags and bits of rope and tree steady floated past me for about 15mins and last night I saw a plane. When we've been further out we haven't seen any planes because they fly so high once they're mid-ocean that you can't see them.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Margaret