Right now the British Ocean Rowing Team are slap bang in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean about a thousand miles from any land save the ocean floor two miles below. Although the Pacific is a far bigger Ocean to cross than the Atlantic that ocean has many islands dotted throughout and the team are currently further from land than anywhere else on the planet.
To put that into perspective they are about as far away from getting to a hospital as an astronaut in a space station. They have now been in a rowing boat out of sight of land for eighteen days and will have become acclimatised to the strange world around them.
Physically, there is little to focus the mind on outside the boat; during the day there may be clouds in the sky and waves on the water and the occasional glimpse of wild life but that is about it. The rowing boat has become the team’s little world. Things that may seem uninteresting and mundane to us like a chocolate treat or a chat on the satellite phone become highlights of the day for them.
At night the world outside the boat changes dramatically; away from air and light pollution the sky at night explodes into a million stars twinkling with such clarity that you feel like you could almost touch them. The little world of a rowing boat expands to the size of the Universe.
The messages from the team often centre around this environment that they are living in; the wild life, the sea, the weather. It may seem a strange place to be for you and me but remember two thirds of the earth is Ocean, uninhabited by humans.
Most of you reading this will be in a town or a city, it is we that are in the unusual environment created by mankind, not the British Ocean Racing Team.
We've booked flights to come and meet you!!!!
Posted by: Ma & Pa Bird | 01 February 2007 at 21:43
I can visualise the scene
the calm in the boat, minds focusing on the task expanding chests taking in that extra pull of oxygen concentration, reach, and bury those oars
Go!
taught muscles spring to life, holding that first catch all through the stroke,
two more and the boat's alive, freed from the still water, eager,responsive
athletes straining at the thwarts, hold and concentrate the mind,waves crash against the flying boat, bodies in unison, oars as one.
muscles firing in sequence learned through hours of training,
power transferred from the catch to arms, back legs and feet driving the craft forward,
a chance for the mind to luxuriate in the action of the body, the rush of the water, the dashing boat.
you have the heart and the race is to be won.
strengthen our stroke, exact our timing, and pull for the line.
we've given our all but the call for more.
Mind over body extracting those last ounces of strength hastening onward.
over the line and the race is won.
As you can tell I really wish I was with you all. Enjoy each moment.
Posted by: Chris C | 01 February 2007 at 22:19
Hi Dom,
Good luck buddy, if you are not going to make it then we will set the special GreatWhites and unmanned fishing boats after you!!!
Reggie and the Infatuation/Midnight Crew.
ps we are in Antihua and the Caribbean is way better than the Atlantic!!!
Posted by: Graham ( Reggie ) Newton | 02 February 2007 at 02:33
Morning Ed and All,
Good to see you're churning out the miles.. 18 days completed now and looks like you're getting stronger.. No big news from this end but looking forward to you making a guest appearance at winter nets on your return... Row hard chaps and keep up the fierce pace...
Posted by: Simmy | 02 February 2007 at 09:38
Ye-es, you're goin' to Barbados as the song says. Satmap looks like a fast conveyor belt for you straight across now, over halfway and beaches beckoning, admire you all.
Posted by: Meg, Andy & Chris | 02 February 2007 at 09:47
Just having a chat with Jo and I'm a bit confused about why you didn't just fly to Barbados with Coconut Airways. Sure that would have been easier.
Posted by: Gill | 02 February 2007 at 10:38
KEEP GOING MARINES! ROW HARD AND GET BACK TO DRY LAND QUICKLY! You're over half way now. Enjoy the stars, such a once in a lifetime sight. XX
Posted by: Jo James | 02 February 2007 at 11:42
Great progress, lads! We all believe in you. You've proved you can do the miles — we always knew it. Keep pulling the oars... there's a record waiting for you.
Posted by: Chris Stevens | 02 February 2007 at 15:57
To our own superstars - your meteoric progress is inspiring us all. Keep going, keep rowing, keep safe and haste ye to victory over 'les bleus'in Barbados. We shall keep wishing, on every star, that calm seas and tail winds will help you all the way. love coxy x
Posted by: Coxy | 02 February 2007 at 18:52
P.s. Who needs Jonny Wilkinson when we have the real awesome foursome
Posted by: Coxy | 02 February 2007 at 19:01
Talking of dark skies, if you are around 20N then the North Star (at any time) should be that amount (about 2 handwidths) above horizon at arms length- but (gents, please wait till end of turn and not stop rowing on our account to try it out).Also depending on hands and arms. Tom, I have an old air nav chart of Granddad's taking just 3 astrodome fixes on Polaris for latitude to take a night flight in the early 60s to Bermuda from LHR, when it was still mainly manual, plus Venus for longitude, there being a definite of lack of sun by night..
Posted by: Andy Rendell | 02 February 2007 at 20:38
You all got a nice mention in the BBC1 England v Scotland rugby build up this afternoon.
Posted by: Richard Hewitt | 03 February 2007 at 17:55
England 42
Scotland 20!
Loved your e-mail Ed, thinking of you, love John & Ki x
Posted by: Ki Flavell | 03 February 2007 at 18:04
Well done to all of you - half way today.
Posted by: Liz J | 03 February 2007 at 19:25
Bien joué les garçons! You're making fantastic progress, keep going strong! Thinking of you always. Hope you're not too chaud and the mars bars not all melted! xx
Posted by: Anne-Laure | 03 February 2007 at 22:51
Great progress team. The reports are are good read and an interesting insight to an alien part of the world for me. Trust moral is high.
Posted by: Tom Wornham | 04 February 2007 at 09:56
Sacre Bleu!
Posted by: Jac Chad | 04 February 2007 at 16:51
good luck and lots of love.from great aunt margaretxxx
Posted by: margaret ladkin | 04 February 2007 at 17:11