Historical Blog Archive

Hi guys, Sarah sends her best wishes. She has tried several times to phone you but reckons you " must have been out, down the pub or something!!" She is having a frustrating time too...winds still not favourable and recently " HUGE " seas as well....very frustrating. . She is so looking forward to her packet of Minstrels. They are for day 100!! ..............which is coming soon......................she has said she will share them if you care to drop in . Wimbledon was fantastic.especially tense in the men's final, but federer got there in the end.last set 16/14.tremendous tennis! Sending you both a big hug.stay in there, keep plugging away at those miles .....................home stretch now!! Helen

Hi guys, I'm doing the Atlantic this December and live just up the road in Cranleigh. Guy, i bumped into your brother there the other day wearing one of your t-shirts! Small world. Hope you are both well out there, and still enjoying the challenge. I've been following the race eagerly. Best of luck, and i'll see you for a few beers when you get back to dry land in the big smoke! All the best, Joe

Hi boys Congratulations on breaking the 1000 nm to go! That is unbelievable! You are often in my thoughts and our conversations although you'll be aware that Russ is a better blogger than me. We are currently training for a meagre half marathon and I've got to say you are a frequent inspiration. Everytime I cry out to Russ that I can't go on he reminds me what you're going through and it really helps although just makes me think each time how amazing you both are for your achievement. Enjoy the last 1000 nm, oh and I've been meaning to ask - have you been able to catch any fish to eat at all? Jess xx

Bring on the last 1000nm - row for all your worth boys, you can do it, put your backs into it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amazing effort so far and you're on the home straight so keep focused on the feeling of pride ( and relief! ) you'll feel when you hit Mauritius!!! And if that doesn't do it then think of the food and beer!! With HUGE admiration Petit x

Congratulations for passing the 1000nm mark, how exciting!! You are both doing fantastically. Our thoughts are with, bring on Mauritius! Love Simon & Fiona xx

LOVE THE 70'S ~ anyone else love the 70 'S ~ and the 60's even better come on ~ Flying Ferkins Fly Fly across the Blue 1000nmiles to go only three numbers left for YOU! xT

Only 1000nm to go, you guys have cracked it. I'm sure it seems like forever for you both, but the days are flying by. Watched Ben Fogle and James Cracknell in the Antarctic last night. I hope for your mothers' sake you are not thinking of attempting anything like that next!! Seriously though, we are all watching your progress in admiration. Keep rowing, hopefully the worst is behind you! Love Ann, John and boys.

top 10 gps... Farmers, surveyors, geologists and countless others perform their work more efficiently, safely, economically, and accurately using the free and open GPS signals....

Hoped you celebrated breaking the 1000nm mark, congratulations. Now over 2/3rds completed so well on the home straight - hope the winds and tides sort themselves out and you can get some good distances under your belts. Still awash with admiration here.

party-pooper here back up to 1005 miles this am, still hanging out under para anchor and drifting a little back East. they should be off it late today or tomorrow morning and heading West again. Jem

thank you Jem for the update - it really is nerve wracking at the moment! please no one mention any more possible adventures - nailing them to the floor comes to mind - whatever happened to those days when we strapped them in their pushchairs!!!! :-)

Well done men. 1000 to go, and it is all downhill from here! As I get tired watching somebody run for a bus, you will understand my admiration for you both. The BBC has been covering the Ocean Angels arrival in Mauritius, so I hope you will be a little more covered up when you row up to the finish! Keep it going, keep the Ferkin Flying! Best wishes Bob

This is all too teasing now, so close and yet so far!!! Also in response to the previous comment about Cracknell and Fogle crossing antartica, thought might be amusing to say that half way through this challenge Andrew treated me to dinner to only sit me down and say he was considering doing the same challenge next!!!!! I will leave my response to your imagination.....................Lets hope the sores in delicate places, food cravings and extreme weather conditions may put them off. Joking aside they have achieved so much, Come on Boys xxxxxx

Hi guys, Been following your progress daily but first time I've gotten round to signing up and posting a comment. I think it's amazing what you are doing and keep it up, not far to go now. Oh and Andy, I hope you've not been doing a 'Winchy' out there during your shift on the oars? Good luck for the rest of the race. Matt (aka Howie the Hornet) - an ex-workmate of Andy's at Damovo

Yea Pascoe, Valerie did mention the Antarctic thing to me too... matt - thanks for signing up - anyone else is welcome, do keep comments coming one and all, old and new! By the way girls, hurry up - get a move on, cold beers are waiting, how hard can it be?! Jem

G'day chaps! I want you to remember these words over the next few weeks when you're closing in on the finish line and you're neck and neck with those other dudes: Clear eyes Full hearts Can't lose In the meantime, to add a bit of maritime flavour to whole proceedings, what's your favourite film that features a boat/submarine/dingy? Mine is Master and Commander although I am partial to a bit of Titanic when I'm alone. Chin up boys, not far now... Sx

Hey guys Passed the 1000 matk...wooooo hooooo! That is friggin awesome news. Sorry you are on the para anchor again, but am sure you will be off it again soon, and surfing those waves! Think I needed to be on your boat today with the torrential down pours we have just had! Keep up the awesome work and catch that other pair up...so close! xx

Not so much a comment, more a question. One of the boats we are building at the moment has queried setting the dagger board off the centreline. So: have you used the dagger board? If so did you notice any drag to one side as a result of the offset? I most ways I hope you are much too busy rowing to answer this comment! But feedback eventually on what did and didn't work would be much appreciated. You obviously liked crossing the 1000m mark so much that you're doing it again. I don't remember jokes, but this from our Irish friend Dermod: Man walks into the pub and asks the barman "Those penguins - what sort of size are they?" Barman indicates something around three feet tall. Man questions this and asks if they aren't sometimes bigger. Barman insists that no, they are no bigger. Man says Ah well, that must've been a nun we knocked down then.

Sarah he is going to have to come up with a VERY good reason!!

maybe they could take a detour with the boat and do both challenges in one!!! Think at the moment antartica is on the back burner and heres hoping it stays there. Otherwise feel we will be the long suffering girlfriend and mother a tad longer!!