Historical Blog Archive

This is getting massively exciting. You are simply amazing to be in such high spirits and to have so much fuel left in your weary tanks! Del - I tried to hurdle an ergo in the gym last week, I got the timing all wrong and ended up kicking the rower in the head. Made me think of you! Huge love X

Russ, At this point I can say that the boys have been playing a strategic current game over the last two weeks, and have been playign positive and adverse current [which swirls around the Indian Ocean] to get a jump on SC. Now all of that's over and both boats are on a similar degree of latitude [ie parallel with the equator], the current game is finished and it's a straight sprint between these two awesome and feisty crews - credit to both of them. First one in buys the beers... The increasing speeds are due to a number of factors not least of which is needing a drink and resting sore arses/nads... Others include; Increased motivation Starting to row together for periods, adding about 0.5 kn] especially during tactically crucial ones. The boat getting lighter [especially with Guys nuts getting smaller]. The favourable winds [a strong easterly]. Associated favourable following swell. The two of them being serious units and able to manage themselves ultra well in endurance exercise and looking after their kit very well. Just to say that the mileages are accurate, but the distances to the finish will be slightly out as Google Earth sees the earth as a flat plane, so there's some slight error, which is why I use degrees west separation, but this will reduce as they near the finish. That said they did SEVENTY-TWO MILES YESTERDAY [taken from the woodvale site] which is awesome, as bexhill the race winner only did that once as did Auld Eamus, the fastest boat of all. I could cry I'm so proud of them. Ok, gushing over, heads down push on for the last few days, stay safe and go girls! Jem

Don't forget the other factor in increased speed - baked beans and breaking wind in the correct direction for extra propulsion.

For separation distances, FF and SC are about 61nm apart FF and Sarah Outen about 110nm SC and Sarah Outen about 62nm This assumes the earth is a perfect sphere of radius 3443.9nm (and a perfect sphere it is not). Perhaps Jeremy can give us the correct radius in the area that these three boats occupy.

someone with a logarithmic calculator can work that one out. However, I know it's 6% shorter going the south route from Aus rather than the northely one [underlining Behxhiil's excellent work given their route], and that this will be exacerbated at the earth is wide at the equator. J

Have just received two pairs of THE MOST FANTASTIC "Happy Socks" in the post this morning xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Especially made for Team MSS by Helen ~ Sarah Outen's Mum ~ Helen, you could go into business with these"Ocean Rowers Socks" Love them. I shall take them out with me ~ I know Guy and Andy will love them too.What a lovely presy. Tx

Andrew,Guy 72nm - awesome.Total Respect. You will need carbon ceramic brakes to slow the boat down !! Ian

Thanks Jem for the 6% shorter comment. This means that the radius earth for long 0 (ie the equator) is greater than say theNorth/South direction. I see that the 12:00 UTC update now shows 73.88nm in the previous 24hours. Gets more impressive every day. It must be the thoughts of the angel cake. To put the figure in perspective these are the best daily figures given by the Woodvale site for the other competitors. Aud Eamus - 74 Bexhill - 81 Pura Vida - 72 RFP - 75 (discounting phantom amounts of 178, 248 and 102) Southern Cross - 57 Old Mutual - 43 Doing Time - 24 Whatever it Takes - 70 Dream It - 29 Hoppipolla - 11

G Bear, I’m not sure if you require any motivation and to be honest, I’m not entirely sure whether what I’m about to ask of you warrants the title “motivation” but can you hurry up and finish. For the last 94 days I’ve spent 5 minutes each day checking up on how things are going and it’s starting to take its toll on me - I’m exhausted. Not to mention the fact I’ve lost nearly 8 hours to your race! Yeah, we’re all proud of you both and you’re both doing a fantastic job, but come on, get yourself to the finish line pronto then we can all get back to normal! Love you Nath

Thanks for the updates Jem, Claire, JohnP et al - this race is proving a real distraction! Hats off to them both - I'm knackered just watching it. R.

Re Russ's comment about boys getting faster: I think the fact that Del and Guy can now smell the food odours wafting across from Mauritius is helping.

I almost feel excited and exhausted reading this blog, and I think I will like many others I'm sure, really miss looking at it each day! It is amazing what motivation can do, I know the weather and currents are a bonus, but I'm sure the feeling that you've almost cracked this must be helping! I am beginning to wish I could see you coming over the horizon in Mauritius, what a moment that will be! Well done both of you, just go easy on the beer in the first few hours!!

god what a blog fest today, great to see all the support, and as always we are all in awe of what you have done already and what you are about to acheive, not long to go now, weather good and ahead of SC, put the pedal to the metal now, dig deep and be the first doubles to do it, Mike

Wow, i cannot believe the mileage covered in the last 24 hours it is incredible. I had did a double take when i first saw it. Talk about digging deep for that last push. And what a response from the bloggers, this must be the most in a day as well! Keep it up boys you are doing amazingly well and it really is not long now until the finish line. We are all watching with a huge amount of admiration. Masses of love Fiona xxx

Wow, wow, wow (this is an echo wow)..... this is the most amazing day ever, this number of comments is a record for the blog...thanks everyone, we love gaining a few records us Watts'! Come home safe boys that's all that matters to us.... Kat & Mimi xx

Andrew / Guy Its our first blog, naughty us. But we are here nonetheless. Amazed at your progress, loving the addiction of the blogs, and watching your little blob scurry towards Mauritius. We've been totally fascinated by the journey and all that it has been. Oh Andy, you were definitely missed and talked about at this year's Tesco gala dins ! ha ! So good that the end is in sight, u deserve a bloody good time when you get on dry land, enjoy, and we will celebrate with you sometime soon. Love from your Novtis chums Lar and James xx