Historical Blog Archive

I wanted to add to Dione's message, the blog is so fanastic and I know so many people are putting a huge amount of effort so we are all kept up to date. Si and I went to a comedy night last night and saw Tim FitzHigham who in 2005 rowed in a boat from the UK to France & then into Tower Bridge in a steel bath. He was a novice rower and ended up doing this because of a bet in a pub over a pint of beer. It took him over 200 days. It was a hilarious evening and his stories made me think of you both and the every day agonies you must be going through (the photos of his blisters were horrific). Keep it up boys, you are so close and we are all behind you. Masses of love Fiona & Si xxxx

Alright chaps, The progress now is looking sweet as a nut, back of the net as Alan Partridge would say! Del, I would like to think you have some Alan Partridge DVD's with you in the boat, I am sure you have. The rowing you are doing every day makes me feel terribly unfit. I do 2000 metres on the rowing machine in the gym and I think that is a good achievement for me. You will love Mauritius when you get there, it has beautiful beaches, top notch curries, good beer and the people are fab (yeah, groovy baby). Well, the French did something right with Mauritius. It is quite simply the dogs b******s and is certainly worth the row. Anyway boys, loving the progress you are making and keep those oars turning nicely. Speak soon Chorlts out

Hey, I am so very excited for you both as you near the finish line. Delaney - massive respect! I can't believe how much we talked and joked about this and now you have almost completed what is just the most awesome of challenges. What a journey...i just can't imagine. I like that you have managed to phone your Grannie but Matt hasn't!! He has no excuse! It must have been just mind blowing to see the Blue Whale...a moment you will never forget i'm sure. I will be wearing my Indian Ocean Row t-shirt with pride in the gym today! Good luck guys for the final push....so exciting! xx

Hey Guy and Andy. You have made good progress and are nearly there. Congratulations for such an achievement. Have been busy latly, as I have been to see WE WILL ROCK YOU!! in Birmingham. What a show and have just seen the new Harry Potter film. I am really looking forward to seeing you when you arrive back home. Good luck for the next few weeks. luv Ash x

Uncle Guy just to let you know 88 days is a long time in a toddlers life, Amelia (Mimi/bug) has changed so much as we bet you have too! she can now sing songs and I would like to share with you her unique version of the classic Baa Baa Black sheep: baa baa back ship,have wool? 3 bags 3 bag full. 1 master,1 dame,little boy down lane... thank you master, thank you dame, little boy down lane. Hurry up and get home pls so you can join in and meet Mimi at "check out number 4 pls"...something else you will love!!! visiting Mimi's imaginary shop! we are so proud of you....... xxx

Q. Name the only football team that doesn't contain any of the letters in "mackerel"? A. Swindon Town Q. Name 7 teams that have a type of building in their name? A. NewCASTLE United Aston VILLA Crystal PALACE BARNsley KidderMINSTER Harriers BARNet MILLwall Havent looked at this for a few days but was delighted to see how much further you're getting closer to the finish, AND how much you're catching after SC. Row, row, row! Go get 'em boys! Thinking of you! xx

Good evening gentlemen - you just dont stop rowing, its quite incredible! I bet ur already thinking about the next challenge.... Keep those legs & arms moving! Andy (slightly more amusing than his brother) Baty

Fantastic progress as you enter the last phase. Incredible that over such a vast distance FF and SC are so close - RESPECT to all 4 of you. That party in Mauritius is getting oh so close. Row, row row, that boat fast across the sea. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily end's in sight yippee!!!!!!! In awe of your resilience and strength Guy and Andy.

Actually, I bet you've already planned your next challenge already haven't you? All that time rowing, what's it to be next, The Atlantic? You have done so amazingly well so far, when I think about the fact you've been rowing all this time, whilst I've been sat at my desk doing mind numbingly boring work, I am well and truly inspired by you both. Little Jo xx

Fantastic progress- catch those Gingers! I can't imagine what 88 days at sea in a little boat is like but you are still in our thoughts every day. I've been watching Cracknell and Fogle's DVD- puts into perspective what you're doing considering they were only at sea for about 50 days! Think its got to be the Pacific next?! :) Hope you took lots of video/photos of the blue whale! How long do you think you will be in Mauritius celebrating before you come back to the UK? Cant wait to see you both. Neil.

Hello Andrew and Guy We have not been regular bloggers but have followed your progress daily. The miles to the finish line are dwindling and it is good to hear you are rowing on full rations. It won't be many days until the next beer on dry land. You have the Southern Cross overhead and you are rapidly closing on the other Southern Cross. Mauritius is getting closer by the day. Caught up with Gerrard and Lina on the Dongara farm on Monday. The grass is nice and green there now! Thanks to all the bad weather you have had to endure in last few weeks (in fact a lot of your challenging journey). Good rowing! Stay safe! Roger and Sue, Geraldton

Pino thank you for such and accolade to Andrew and Guy and thank you for all your support. You echo the feelings of all of us who have watched and supported from the side lines. We are all so VERY PROUD of them both! Claire Andrew's Mum

We've all been there, haven't we? You're in the middle of the Indian Ocean watching Miami Vice, when a Blue Whale drop's by ! Brilliant article again Sally ~ many thanks for keeping the story going for the Horsham Residents! I have collected them all for Guy and Andy's scrapbook ~ they will love reading through them later. xtina

Well we are all now "Swinging in the Sixties" Flying Ferkins is Flying Across the Blue Passed the Central Indian Ridge Come on Boy's ,we are soon to be with you. Latitude 23 25' 14 S Longitude 69 29' 47 E

Just a quickie boys, but wanted to say how impressive the progress you have made over the last few days has been. Brilliant rowing, I know you are going to do it. Very proud Trumpet xx

From where I'm sitting this looks BRILLIANT. Really great progress and eating those miles up - won't be long now. Just thinks - Mauritius = beer!

Guy....Just love the first comment rowing like Bas***ds! Brilliant! Seriously tho, wicked achievement guys. Fantastic! Just one that will make Guy laugh..... Guy do you love it when it rains in London??? Thewy

Re Chris's comment: lol. I'm sure there are plenty more classic 'Watts' moments out there! ;) BTW, was driving along listening to Michael Jackson in my mate's car the other day - brought back memories of Collyers and the Thewmobile! So did watching an episode of the Inbetweeners where one of them gets his first car. Good times... Seriously, though, who would have thought back then that we'd be following Guy and Del's lives on the internet, or reading about them spotting a blue whale in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Life is good! Boys, really proud of how well you're doing; can't believe there's less than a thousand to go now - well done! Following your progress on the blog. Well done to Tom (or whoever it is) for updating Guy's Facebook status with the blog posts - helps me to keep checking up on the boys. Actually really impressed in general with how well supported they've been from the 'ground crew' :)

Truly incredible what you’ve accomplished so far and still amazes me every day what strength of character it must take to conquer an ocean in a rowing boat. Plus it's really great to see you’re clocking up the miles and bonus for all of us addicted dot watchers on the edge of our seats! Must be a great feeling and reassuring knowing you’re getting ever closer to Mauritius, not to mention motivating. Keep it up (conditions permitting) and you’ll be there before you know it, for a feast of beer and plenty of dirt!! I was remembering back to the incredible training regimes and how you measured progress with a little friendly 5k competition and so asked Tom what your PBs were roughly. Then I thought it would be interesting to see how far you’ve rowed based on 5k’s. The results were as follows and are rough calculations based on the last position viewed ……. Last Update, From Start (nm), To Finish (nm) 18/07/2009 06:03, 2468, 668 Total Race Length (3132nm) 5800km = 5k x 1160 Rowed so far (2468nm) 4571km = 5k x 914 Left to go (668nm) 1237km = 5k x 247 They have already rowed the equivalent of 95% across the US based on 4827km coast to coast or 4.71 times the length of Britain based on 970km from Lands End to John O’Groats. Guy’s PB is 18 min 10 sec and Del’s is sub 18 min, so based on a rough average of 18 min …. If it was possible to row at this pace 24/7 on the rowing machine, they would cover the total race distance in 14.5 days solo. Their current (very rough) average for 5k and bearing in mind the hugely different conditions is 142 min. Mos

Chris, amazing blog ~ but leaves me exhausted! It's good to see your expertise in preparing these statistics!!! zzzzzzzzzzzzz xtina