The British Ocean Rowing Team have posted an incredible 108 nautical miles (124 miles) in the last 24 hours, their best run since they started the row twenty-seven days ago and believed to be the most miles rowed in an ocean rowing boat in a 24hr period.
This is nothing short of a Herculean effort by the team to make it to Barbados in world record time, strong north easterly winds of between fifteen and twenty knots are ideal and if anything the wind looks to be increasing and remaining in this favourable direction. One other factor aiding this astounding achievement is that the boat is getting lighter, the team have been eating 6kg a day in supplies but now they are literally dumping fresh water dramatically decreasing the weight of the twenty-six-foot rowing boat and increasing the distance that it surfs in the Atlantic swell. As Dom Mee explains;
“The Spectra watermaker has done its job and has been as reliable as ever, it has provided us with all of our drinking and cooking water during the trip as I knew it would. We have been carrying 200kg of bottled drinking water as ballast but we don’t need to anymore, we are still running the machine everyday but that water is now used for washing and then thrown over the side, having the first fresh water wash after three weeks is a serious boost to moral!”
A tired but defiant Pete Bird added; “We are now less than 700nm from Barbados and if we can keep this pace up we can break the record, my thoughts are now turning to my girlfriend Nicola and my family who will be in Barbados to see us in, I don’t want to wait any longer than necessary to see them all again. The banter on the boat is all about looking forward to seeing our loved ones in a few days time.”
Great speed guys (was it due to MS1000 making you slicker???) should've taken the waterskis!
Mel & Jim x
Posted by: Melanie & Jim | 11 February 2007 at 11:09
Hi Supermen,
Fantastic mileage, soooo impressive. Told you a Snicker would make you row quicker. Nearly there,....can't wait to see you Ed.
John & Ki
Posted by: John & Ki Flavell | 11 February 2007 at 11:17
Fantastic pace! I hope my encouragement (and bribes) helped a little.....
Can't wait to see you. Love Nic xx
Posted by: Nicki | 11 February 2007 at 13:03
BIG BISOUS DE PARIS, du courage pour vous tous!
Posted by: condat family | 11 February 2007 at 15:02
Wow that is some crazy speeds you lads are going at. You could be hired out as some tug boat! Give it some big ones and lets see this record come back to Britain.
Posted by: chris | 11 February 2007 at 15:13
Excellent going! Well done all of you. We have been keeping an eye on your progress on the webiste and it is good to see that the land is getting closer!
Posted by: King Edward's School | 11 February 2007 at 15:14
Hi Tom,
what fantastic progress - well done (that is not said in a patronising tone either), I am seriously impressed....
I'm in california at the moment (after a considerably easier atlantic crossing - i waved tho!)
My mother moves to bristol in a couple of days and wants your number!!
Good luck with the weather and, for the sake of your boat-friends keep off the sprouts.
clare.
Posted by: clare H | 11 February 2007 at 17:03
Hi guys!
really glad to hear youre still on track. I hope you are all getting on ok - Pete I hope youre not being a grumpy guts!
Everything is going ok here in London - had lots of snow! I have found a flat to live in much closer to work so no more commuting - lucky me!
good luck with the last leg. ill post you another comment soon
xxx
Posted by: lucy C | 11 February 2007 at 17:40
Never Give Up
- Winston Churchill
Posted by: anon | 11 February 2007 at 18:02
Pour accomplir de grandes choses, nous devons non seulement agir, mais rêver également, projeter non seulement, mais croyez également. Believe my friends
Posted by: Jac Chad | 11 February 2007 at 18:44
hi uncle dom and team at last it seems youre putting your back into it keep up the good work barbados and the rum getting ever closer. cant wait to see you when we get back from florida we will give you a wave as we fly over love kieron and hayley
Posted by: blight family | 11 February 2007 at 19:10
Well done team. Amazing 124 miles. Be a record breaker, make Roy Castle proud along with the rest of us!
Posted by: Jo | 11 February 2007 at 19:50
We've got the suitcases out! You are doing a fantastic job!! Let us know if you want anything brought out. Lot's are watching your progress and are hugely impressed. Oarsome progress in the words of the inimitable The Sun.
Posted by: Richard & Suzanne Bird | 11 February 2007 at 20:56
An amazing effort, keep going lads as I need Tom T100 back ASAP, I have a marathon to run and my training has been lacking! Tom, John is looking forward to running round Clifton with you on his back, reckons you'll be a lot lighter! Dig deep, almost there.
Posted by: Craig & Katie | 11 February 2007 at 22:43
Yes boys, keep up the extraordinary pace - Lashings of scones 'n rum rown t'corner!
Posted by: Dan Brown | 12 February 2007 at 02:41
A hugely impressive day at the oars lads, me, James and John Bradshaw are rooting for you all the way to the finish line. It's neck-and-neck and you know you have it in you to push that little bit harder than those that have gone before you, you know that you can dig that little bit deeper and you know that you can catch La Mondial. Godspeed chaps.
Niall McCann
Posted by: Niall McCann | 12 February 2007 at 09:39
Amazing news! We are cheering you on from here, so glad the weather seems to be in your favour too! Pete, we wish we could be there to see you arrive, but we will make sure there's a celebration here too. Love and luck, Caroline and Lottie
Posted by: Caroline Reeves | 12 February 2007 at 10:50
Fantastic effort guys! Thats a real do or die attitude ;-) Wish I could be at the finish line to see you in. Just one last push left!
Posted by: Cavesy | 12 February 2007 at 11:30
Great stuff team the RMA are watching you beat the record. Pat and Tom weant another beer with the most famous man they know Dom!
Keep rowing hard - Charlie
Posted by: charlie h | 12 February 2007 at 12:28
Good work boys.
Keep it up, you're nearly there.
PS. Seen any mermaids?
Posted by: Taber Webb | 12 February 2007 at 13:57
My wife and I are both 'rooting' for you.I have sent £5 to the British Embassy in Barbados to pay for a splash of Mountgay for you all.
Yours sincerely,
H. Root
Posted by: white horse barflies | 12 February 2007 at 14:27
Dear Ed - Hi from us! Well done so far - thinking of you rowing - and rowing...and rowing! All this time Lisa has been on crutches - since the fateful send-off evening she broke her knee - (my world is the flat at the moment so its hard to imagine your experiences out there). Lots of love and good luck to you all. Lisa and Barney xx
Posted by: Lisa & Barney Watts | 12 February 2007 at 14:43
Well done fellas, hope the weather stays with you for the rest of the way.
Less than 1 thousand miles to go... when I do the last 1000 m in the gym (meters) I count down every hundred to keep myself going. I imagine it's exactly the same there - but maybe takes a bit longer. I know, don't mention it...
Posted by: Alex | 12 February 2007 at 14:46
alright mate keep it up, cant wait to see you on the other side.
im up in london now filming a music video with my house mates, and ndubz (everyone look on myspace for them).
we were filming at Coolio's flat on saturday, and got to meet him. he sends his love to all of you guys!
keep it up!
Posted by: baby bird, 23b and ndubz | 12 February 2007 at 15:13
alright mate keep it up, cant wait to see you on the other side.
im up in london now filming a music video with my house mates, and ndubz (everyone look on myspace for them).
we were filming at Coolio's flat on saturday, and got to meet him. he sends his love to all of you guys!
keep it up!
Posted by: baby bird, 23b and ndubz | 12 February 2007 at 15:15