The British Ocean Rowing Skipper, Dom Mee contacted the shore team less than a thousand miles from Barbados. With just 12 days left to break the fifteen year old Atlantic Rowing record, it looks like being a photo-finish.
Hello, everyone firstly thanks for all your support through the blog it makes a difference and the team really appreciate it. Team moral remains very high as we have just passed the final 1000 mile mark, so the numbers get smaller from here on. I am really proud of my team they have met every challenge on this voyage head on and passed with flying colours. My mind is never far from the stopwatch which drives my mad, I swear I can hear it tick in my sleep. In my imaginary race with 'la Mondial', she is currently 70 miles a head after our bout of headwinds but we are closing the gap. It is going to be very close, so fingers crossed.
Mike Broughton of www.winningwind.com, our ace weather man, says for the next ten days the weather looks good all the way to Barbados and boy I am needing a rum. Life on board is generally busy for Ed and myself as we live in the stern cabin so have to do the majority of the boat admin. Such as making water from the Spectra and cooking for the boys. The days pass quickly the night time seems the longest and everyone is pretty tired at breakfast which consists of rolled oats.
I am enjoying the lack of hurricanes, sea ice and polar bears which normally threaten me on expeditions its hard work, but low on the danger front which is nice for a change. Ed is doing a great job as first mate on board and Tom (T1000) and Pete (Birdy Bird) are working hard and keeping us entertained from the Gimp Locker (front cabin).
Our Innotec MS1000 is proving its worth again and is being used for everything we even thought about using it for personal chaffing problems (which are not good for moral). All is going well and with only 12 days to push for the record it going to be pretty full on.
People always ask what motivates me. It is simply rum and I believe that Barbados knows all about that tipple!!
Sounds like Winston Churchill had it right with all the talk about gimps and rum. As he said in his own words "Don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash." keep up that blinding pace lads! palm trees and hula-hula girls are in sight...
Posted by: Andy Narracott | 08 February 2007 at 10:51
Just like the Pepperami you guys really are 110% meat. Go commando. Good work team - inspiring, impressive, bloody brilliant.
Posted by: chris martin | 08 February 2007 at 11:40
Hey Dom, do you reckon you can get to Barbados before that whinginig Canadian bloke realises you are at sea again?
Posted by: white horse barflies | 08 February 2007 at 12:18
Rock & Roll Cowboys, Rock & Roll!!! Spiced Rum soon Will Be in Your Tum, Yum Yum!!!!!
Titchokido
Posted by: Adrian Wibrew | 08 February 2007 at 12:20
We've got total belief in you, guys. You achieved the impossible, just by getting the challenge together. Now you're showing us the fastest sustained performance of ocean rowing ever seen. The next ten days are going to be sheer drama. Give it everything and smash that record!
Posted by: Chris Stevens | 08 February 2007 at 16:15
Hey Guys, like the idea about MS1000 working on personal chaffing!
Bronte says "hi" to you all but especially Tom.
Keep it going guys, we're with you all the way in spirit.
Mel xxxx
Posted by: Melanie & All at Innotec | 08 February 2007 at 16:33
hello you guys. Im thinking of you and cheering you on although you cant hear me!!!
miss you lots see you soon bronte !!!!
x x xx x x
Posted by: Bronte | 08 February 2007 at 16:41
Home straight now fellas, lets grunt up, suck it in, take charge of those guns and pull like mad men for that record belongs in Blighty!
Posted by: Baz Roche | 08 February 2007 at 17:22
Keep cracking on fellas!! You'll beat the "frenchies" I know it!
Posted by: Dave Palmer | 08 February 2007 at 19:00
Great going guys. Still plenty of time although with each day the goal becomes painfully obvious. Love the information regarding your position against the French. Reminds me of England, Australia World Cup final. A real nail biter! Keep those facts coming.
Posted by: Tom Wornham | 08 February 2007 at 19:44
One tequila
Two tequila
Three tequila
Floor.
Posted by: Pete Blackman | 08 February 2007 at 20:02
Oh and Gabrielle says she is disappointed by the beard action on show so far. She was expecting more of a Rasputin / Long John Silver / ZZ Top look by now. However it looks as if you're all cultivating a 'designer stubble' look for the bars and nightclubs of Barbados.
Could do better.
Posted by: Pete Blackman | 08 February 2007 at 20:08
well guys you are doing a grand job!!and buy the looks of you will smash the record from the french, and it won't be long till the smell of rum will be in the air together with the steel bands!!keep rowing hard chaps cus you know it will be worth it in the end..
Posted by: matt | 08 February 2007 at 20:37
going well nice photo of you dom a few more clothes on than in the sun photo. keep up the good job i'm very jealous of you seeing the dolphins we'll be seeing them in a week but they'll be in a tank! looking good for the record see you soon love the blights
Posted by: blight family | 08 February 2007 at 21:00
How many rums do you want lined up guys! I,m sure you can smell it now, use it to drive you on
Posted by: Chris C | 08 February 2007 at 21:15
87 Miles stop loafin you crazy idiots!!!Thats Rum haze on the Horizon!!!and its waiting for you!!!Lets Ave it!!!
Titchokido
Posted by: Adrian Wibrew | 09 February 2007 at 08:25
Pull out all the stops guys; the Hawaiian Tropic Bikini Girls are on tour in Barbados but only on 18/02/07 and are looking for a couple of oil boys (AND they have plenty of Captain Morgans...)
Posted by: Jo James | 09 February 2007 at 10:02
you're going great guns guys - we know you'll do it !! heavy snow here so Barbados sounds fantastic.... have a great time there. All our love
Posted by: sue and chris | 09 February 2007 at 10:18
Come on boys you know you can do it eat up a part of that distance every day and beat that clock. Make sure the guns are firing like machine guns
Posted by: Chris | 09 February 2007 at 10:43
France is following your progress too! Great going Love Peter and Mads
Posted by: Peter and Mads | 09 February 2007 at 12:31
"Plundering Porpoises! Jumping jellyfish! Harrowing hurricanes!" A tot of rum, an impromptu naked YMCA dance and a gimp locker, just the sort of things us boys like abroad The Black Pig. You're welcome aboard anytime. Good luck, see you down the Blue Oyster Bar in Barbados. Captain Pugwash, Master Bates, Seaman Staines and Roger the Cabin Boy.
Posted by: Captain Pugwash | 09 February 2007 at 12:41
La France et les Français sont avec vous! Vaillants et braves Anglais, vous seuls pouvez battre ce record, alors allez-y, la France croie en vous!
Posted by: Jacques Chirac | 09 February 2007 at 13:28
and now the end is near...well nearly near. Keep it up, full of admiration and pleased for Dom that Ed is living up to all his expectations in the domestic dept. I always suspected that he would make somone a lovely little wife (shaves his armpits don't you know!)
Posted by: Ben Cannon | 09 February 2007 at 13:52
Hi guys, I don't know if anybody has told you but from the ocean rowing website it looks like your going too far north. Maybe its petes guns of steel affecting the needle. Anyway I think its best that you get a wriggle on and I will see you there shortly!
Posted by: Chris Bird | 09 February 2007 at 15:13
Hi Pete - lots of people following your progress, including us! Glad to see you're making a race of it... would be so boring if you had just shot ahead.
Apparently you will be losing weight, so we'll do our bit to feed you up when you get back. Anything particular you'd like? Sarah's got this great recipe for rolled oats...
Fantastic effort, and on the home straight now. Well, OK, 1,000 miles is quite a long straight. And it's going away from home. Ah, well, so I'm rubbish at encouragement, but just make sure you beat the French.
Posted by: Peter & Sarah Counter | 09 February 2007 at 19:07