Historical Blog Archive

Amazing progress boys. Keep reeling those Southern Cross guys in!

Superb progress in last 24, you seem to be motoring now, maybe you've shed a few pounds of amber necter which was weighing you down at the start !!! Closing down on the Southern Cross boys and maybe Old Mutuals's outboard engine is running low on fumes !!! Surely he can just be rowing ???? It will be such an amazing feeling when you get the actual in your sight, only surpassed when you pass them and leave them for dust... Mike

Helen - got the message loud and clear. Please tell Sarah. x Just keep waking up each day (and through out the night eh Kathryn) thinking about you lads on the ocean. Total admiration. Sedgly/Jeremy - nice work. Tom

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[...] This post was Twitted by TeamMSS - Real-url.org [...]

Excellent progress boys! Keep going!!!! Thinking of you sitting in my chair, drinking an ice cold beer and watching t.v! Looks like they have been followed by a potential man eater. Better stay in that bath tub guys! Get that photo on Tom! A little bit of info from the fountain of all knowledge, Wikipedia.... Dels brother out. The copper shark, bronze whaler, or narrowtooth shark, Carcharhinus brachyurus, is a large shark of the Carcharhinidae family, found in subtropical seas and oceans worldwide, except the eastern coast of North America and the northern Indian Ocean. Their length is up to about 3.5 metres (11 ft) and they can weigh up to 300 kilograms (660 lb). The copper shark has a blunt broad snout, narrow bent cusps on the upper teeth, and no interdorsal ridge. They are gray to bronze in colour on the back, and white below. The fins are similarly coloured except the pelvic fins, which have dusky tips, and the pectoral fins, which have dusky to black tips. Copper sharks are often seen close inshore feeding on schooling fish, such as salmon, frequently within the surf zone but they are also found around offshore islands near deep water where they prey on squid as well as pelagic and bottom-dwelling fish. Reproduction is viviparous and the female will deliver between seven and twenty live pups. Males live for up to thirty years, and females for up to twenty five. It can be dangerous to spearfishers with recently speared fish, and also towards surfers as its prey is often found in the surf. The copper shark is a large and potentially aggressive shark that has attacked people.[1] It is often confused with the dusky shark.

Just hitting a cold beer Matt. ;-) Will get onto it and post a picture of that shark. Tom

Matt don't tar Tom with the brush of my incompetency!!! It was me who was incapable of loading the photo. Loving the wikipedia info though.

Good to hear that all is going so well. Following your progress daily and glad to hear that all is well. Keep at it. xx

If you want to know about sharks, ask a diving camel (there aren't many of us around!). On the whole they are very curious creatures and will follow you just to see what's going on - but best not to get too close, it's only a matter of time before the world is threatened by a pandemic of shark 'flu! All this shark stuff has diverted attention from a really good day's rowing - well done guys, keep up the good work and when the stereo isn't working SING OUT LOUD (you can't annoy the neighbours!).

Yes it has been a really good day for them. Seem to be on a good course and slowly catching Southern Cross. keep it going guys. Hope the sunshines soon so you can blast the music some more!

Spoke to them as usual this am regarding tactics and strategy stuff. Great mood all round, fantastic course and good speed. They are looking after the boat and each other well, and VERY HAPPY that they are reeling in Southern Cross at some speed now. Absolutely stoked with all the support from here Go girls! Jem

Great to hear that strong progress is being made. Keep at it! What an incredible amount of support there is for the boys too. Still #1 hit on Google.. Neil

Wow you guys have been munching on the energy bars (or chocolate muffins Delbarina!!). You are doing friggin amazingly. The other pairs must be in your sights now - keep it up. xx

Amazing message - keep up the good work :) you both rock (even without the stereo) !

Hey chaps Just checked progress and looks like you're approaching 300 miles (you may be past that now in which case hooray!) you must be feeling much better and stronger after those tough few days last week - well done and keep going hard at it, I'm still waiting for you to catch Old Mutual Endurance!! Love from us all Chris, Ali, Jenny, Peter, Nicky, Jonathan and baby Alex xxx

Being fortunate to track Andrew and Guy from Australia for the past few weeks it has been mind blowing to know that they are in that ocean which runs up the west coast an amazing coastline and a sea of azure blue..........I imagine that it doesn't always look that blue!! Nicola and I left Geraldton on the 20th rather sad to be going as our visit there had been emotional, fun and b........dy hard work making sure that Andrew and Guy had Flying Ferkins exactly how they wanted her....we feel we know Geraldton intimately and if you ever need to know where to buy spanners, drill bits and nuts and bolts just ask! The morning of their departure was bouyant and exciting if not a bit daunting - waving them off was a privilege and watching them disappear into the horizon a surreal and emotional moment - a moment I will remember forever I'm sure. So scary how all the rowing boats just vanished into the middle distance...! I feel for those crews who have had to retire - we watched them prepare in the same way as Andrew and Guy and knowing that they are not going to achieve their dream is very sad......... As Nicola and I touched down at Heathrow yesterday afternoon guess which airplane we saw - Air Mauritius........is that an omen or what? Weather conditions I am reliably told are favourable for the next few days - south westerly - taking them straight on course for Mauritius..........

Hi you two How about the apricot crumble? That's the one we had to mix around a bit when we were packing it into the bottom of the boat ~ cause you were both not looking forward to opening it ~ ever!! You have been on board Ferkins for almost two weeks, tell us what music you are rowing to and have either of you any favourites?? Missing you so much.......... love love love

Trumpet here, just got in from a night out in Worcester with Tofty (who is absolutely hammered!), I think its nearly 3am and its been a 'funky' night! Man Utd won again and look good for their 18th League title now. You are doing so well boys, got nothing but love for ya! Trumpet Out! (been wanting to say that for a while!)

Hi Andrew and Guy! did not have time yesterday to chat a little with you, but to day when I checked your tracker, Wow! you're moving ! moving! and surely rowing! rowing! as well. All the gang you met in Dongara at Easter, send you their best wishes, they were all at Jason's( my son), yesterday, to watch the Footy..... I am glad you had a little excitement on that vast ocean and met with some of their residents!!!!. Well Claire I think it is a good omen you saw "Air Mauritius" when you landed in Heathrow..... Mauritius here they come!!!! Come on boys don't slack down now, keep those muscles moving!!!!!