At 1825hrs the boat’s position is reported as 26deg09minsN 019deg09minsW. The parachute anchor has been out for two days solid now. Last night the wind was blowing in excess of 25 knots with waves coming over the boat, rolling around all over the place. Anthony says he feels like he is stuck in a washing machine on a cold wash!!! The rudder was making some groaning noises but, in these weather conditions, Anthony says he feels lucky that it is still attached to the boat. There was no sleep last night, listening to the ipod is about all that can be done to pass the time. Anthony managed to cook up some rice with chopped tomatoes but, half way through that meal, a wave broke over the boat and completely soaked him and his food. He tells me he carried on eating it anyway (waste not want not). There was no rowing again today with all the wind and waves in the wrong direction, hopefully the parachute is slowing down the rate of drift. Time passes very slowly when there is not much to do. Anthony saw two ships today. The first at 1045, was a cargo ship, “The Arneborg” bound for Flushing and, the second, at 1604, “The Madrid Spirit”, a tanker heading North. It rained a lot today, but in the afternoon the skies lightened to allow some blue sky and sunshine to peek through.
BW (Land based co-ordinator).
Nice and calm in the Marina.
Friday, 29th January 2010 at 1900hrs. Position 26deg04minN 019deg24minW. Very little distance covered today. Big waves breaking over the boat. Very difficult to row. No rain, but very uncomfortable nonetheless. Anthony managed to cook and eat a vegetable biriani and rice with a lemon pudding for afters – very nice. No shipping within sight today. Sleeping on and off and sorting out the admin on the boat. Anthony managed to send a few emails, but it’s been quite difficult to type on the laptop in the conditions.
Today at 1830hrs. Position now 26deg07minN 019deg17minW. Looks like he’s back to the same position as he was last week – very frustrating! Parachute anchor out all day. Only about force 3 as far as the wind is concerned, but wind and waves in the wrong direction. Waves still breaking over the boat and making life very uncomfortable, very difficult to row. No hot food today, biscuits and jam from the ration packs have had to suffice! Still no shipping today within sight, which is good news. Anthony mentioned that when he left La Gomera, after the first couple of nights, the boat was surrounded with an escort of dolphins, which was a very heartwarming experience! The weather looks like it may change and move the wind and waves in the right direction within the next few days, here’s hoping …. .
BW (Land based co-ordinator)
Anthony gave me a quick call from the satphone this morning at 1010hrs. The weather had been rough all night with force 5 to 6 winds. The parachute anchor had been out all night. The visibility is good but rain clouds are covering the sky with just the odd glimpse of blue beneath. A couple of days ago a passing ship gave Anthony a weather forecast saying that it was about to clear up, no such luck as yet. Looking at the positions that Anthony has been reporting over this past week he has travelled South but not very far West which is where he needs be. This is frustrating but in a rowing boat there is very little that can be done to overcome natures fury. Anthony reports his position as 26deg01minsN 19deg27minsW. Food today has been limited to ration packs, apparently the fruit cereal bars are very tasty. The amount of spray coming over the side of the boat makes it impossible to use the gas ring which is mounted outside on a bulkhead above where the life raft is stored. Anthony hopes that the fund raising is progressing and is always saying how generous people can be for a good cause.
BW (land based co ordinator).
Position today at 2000 hrs 26deg00minsN 19deg36minsW . The wind direction changed again today moving around and coming from the South and increasing in speed. At 1035 this morning Anthony deployed the parachute anchor which does a fair job of steadying the boat, but is a real drama to get back on board and re stow in its bag. After about an hour it was brought back in but deployed again at 1230hrs. A good hot meal of hot porridge with honey made a difference to wellbeing with the gas cooking ring working really well.
Last night was not good for sleeping with the boat being tossed about quite a bit and Anthony was feeling tired before even starting to row. The weather was described as wall to wall cloud and rain. The waterproof jacket donated by Musto is being well used and has been great. Another cargo ship sighted today The Ikevana on route to Brazil. It seems Anthony is in the slow lane of the motorway. Even with rowing all day and part of the night not much distance was covered in the last 24 hours but Anthony is hopeful that he will pick up the currents that move towards Antigua.
BW (Land based co ordinator).
Position now 26deg03minN 019deg38minW the weather cleared up this afternoon allowing a glimpse of the sun which allowed the batteries to be topped up. No food until this evening a delicious meal of Tuna Lasagne with tomatoes and onions, with the obligatory green tea. Anthony wanted me to tell you all that he has learned to complete all his ablutions and and catering needs during the daylight hours. He says that at night it is pitch black and quite eerie with only yourself as company. I asked him if he has started to talk to himself and he said he always does anyway!!! There is about a 1.5 metre swell at the moment and even that is enough to roll him around in the cabin pod knocking him against the sides of the boat and sending things all over the place. Anthony has managed a conversation with the electrician and will need to perform some maintenance and general fault finding on the power management system. There is annoying intermittent fault that needs some attention. The rowing continued as normal 4 hours on, a break and 4 hours on again. For those of you interested his backside is still very sore but the cream works wonders!!! His hands are getting tougher but the joints are a bit stiff. There is still plenty of shipping in the general area mostly on its was to Las Palmas. Anthony says that he is hoping for a reasonable sleep tonight and will not have to read to wind down.
BW (Land based co ordinator)
Anthony’s rowing day started at first light this morning with just a drink of bottled water. A routine has been put in place, pretty much 4 hours on then a break for some food and 4 hours back rowing again. This continues until late maybe 2300hrs or later. The weather eased again today less swell and the wind dropped. The worst thing is still no sun to power the batteries which is now starting to be a concern. Not a bad day as far as food is concerned ration packs of omelette and baked beans, washed down with green tea!!!
Anthonys position at 2100hrs was 26deg16minsN 19deg23minsW. The satphone has turned out to be one of the most useful items of gear on board, apart from general calls Anthony is able to talk with the Electrician that fitted the GPS and AIS safety gear for maintenance and troubleshooting. Apart from being a bit tired due to the irregular sleep patterns Anthony is in good spirits still waiting for the sun and some good luck.
BW (Land based co ordinator).
I have just received a quick call from Anthony on his sat phone. He reports his position as 26deg39minsN 19deg07minsW.
The sea state has calmed down now and the wind speed dropped a little, and also in the right direction. The concern now is for sunshine. As I have mentioned before, all the instruments, lights, communications and water making facilities rely on a good amount of sunshine to power up the batteries. Up until now there has been precious little. Anthony managed to row all day yesterday stopping at 22 30hrs. Earlier on he spotted a Tanker on the horizon he, managed to contact it on the radio and had a chat with the skipper the name of the ship was The Ocean Cobalt. Anthony reports that his hands have toughened up now the blisters have hardened but his backside is “——- red raw!!!!!
Ready to go
So far as food goes still not cooked or reheated much as yet but the dry ratios are fine. Lets all hope for some sunshine in the North Atlantic A.S.A.P. BW (Land based co ordinator)
It was at 0700 hrs today Sunday Morning I was in a deep dream when the phone rang. I sprang out of bed knowing that the only person I know to be awake at that time would be Anthony. He was fairly cheerful bearing in mind that he had been awake most of the night. The sea anchor was deployed again to keep the boat steady. Earlier in the day Anthony had stopped rowing and was about to prepare a meal when out of the blue the sky darkened and the wave increased in height and intensity. Preparing a meal was too difficult so it was an Uncle Bens Rice again. The North Atlantic is a big place so it comes as some supprise to me that Anthony has seen and been in radio contact with 3 other vessels since he left the Canaries. One vessel an American fishing trawler was able to give useful weather information. Speaking of the weather I am able to pass on information to him over the sat phone wind speed wave height e.c.t. and this is of some limited use. The problem is in a rowing boat there is really not much you can do to avoid it. The plan at the moment is to head South and a bit west hoping to pick up the currents that will aid the progress of the boat towards Antigua. At the moment the waves are coming onto the side of the boat making rowing uncomfortable but at least it is pushing him South.
His position at 0700 hrs this Morning was given at 27deg 08mins
N 18deg 31mins W There was a fair swell up to 3 metres in height with good visibility. Anthony has managed to have a shave today and sort a few things out. The sun is making a watery appearance which will help to charge the batteries that run all the electronics and essential items like the water maker. No sun equals no power!!!
We had another brief telephone conversation at midday. I was able to give him the news that the weather was set to remain as it has been until Tuesday when it should calm down a bit. His position 27deg 04 mins N 018deg 35 mins W. If you type the Lat Long reference into google earth you can see where he is in relation to the Canaries. Anthony says that he would love to email people personally but it is not possible at the moment but will try later.
BW (land based co-ordinator)
After leaving la Gomera in good spirits and a straightforward start, things started to get a little more difficult. As darkness fell and still well within sight of Land the wind direction changed and was coming head on to the boat. At about 2300hrs Anthony decided that to keep the boat steady and prevent drift he would deploy the parachute anchor over the side of the boat. For those of you not initiated into the boating world the parachute anchor is pretty much like it sounds. A length of line (rope) approx. 60 metres long tied off on the boat at one end connected to a 2 metre diameter canvas parachute. The last thing he wanted is to be blown back onto land. Sleep was minimal 20 minute cat naps at best. His position that night was given as 27deg55.924′N 17deg17.276′W. It sounds like the the next day was much the same as far as the weather and sea state were concerned. The next position was given as 27deg48.653′ N 017deg 25.864′W. It is almost impossible to cook any food or heat water in the conditions so the ration packs come in very handy. If any of you have ever seen the seat on Anthonys boat you will know that it is not much different to the seat on the rowing machines at your local gym. Anthony has a gel cover and the pure luxury of a sheepskin one if required. Even with that luxury!!! Anthony tells me that the motion of the boat in the water and the effort of rowing, his backside now resembles the dark side of the moon and no amount of cream relieves the pain. He is having to stand up at short intervals just for some relief. His hands are covered in blisters and every joint in his body is aching. Apart from that all in the garden is rosie. He is just about managing to send email and I spoke to him on his satellite phone this evening to give him a weather update. He has seen some ominous looking clouds in the sky but according to the website www.passageweather.com things are not looking too bad. Anthony is in good spirits and hoping for a reasonable sleep. I will try and load a picture of the sleeping arrangements . His position so far is 27deg38.487′N 017deg.40.077′W.
Just before leaving La Gomera Anthony received a visit from one of his old colleagues Terry Roscoe who served with Anthony in 42 Commando. Terry is also a major sponsor of the challenge Central Catering Services Ltd. It was good for Anthony to see a friendly face before leaving. The small Island of El Hierro is still within sight from the boat the light is fading the sea state confused another uncertain night ahead. I like to pass on words of wisdom that I am sure that he will appreciate “If in danger or in doubt always keep a sharp lookout. I think I will put on another log on the fire while a sip something hot.
BW (Land based co-ordinator)
Sleeping Accomodation
BW (Land based co-ordinator)
Good Morning to you all, and what a good Morning it is. After all the problems with Port Clearance, I am now priviliged to be able to announce, that having obtained all the necessary paperwork, checked and re-checked the boat and its stores including even more bottled water, now 250 litres. Anthony has now pushed off from the Marina in La Gomera and keeping a sharp lookout for the local Ferries and other shipping is on his way. I said to him to remember that old Chinese proverb that says “Even a journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step.” He has now started, 3000 miles of open Ocean stands in front of him with everything that nature can come up with to make things difficult. Anthony was in good spirits and thankful that the waiting was over. I wished him good luck and a fair wind from us all, Family friends and all of you following his progress on this website. He did ask me once again to thank all of you for generous donations and remind everyone that the row is for a great cause “Help for Heros.” Fundraising is going well and will be ongoing during the row. One last thing I will be uploading pictures when I learn how!!!!
BW (Land based co-ordinator)
