Historical Blog Archive

You've done something that matters to a lot of people Well done x and please hurry home asap so we can celebrate x

I know how focused and how tough you will be now. GOOD! It will be wonderful to see the pair of you again!

Can't believe that you are nearly there - looking forward to seeing you. good luck for the final few miles. Vic.xx

Guy Del....what can we say??? I am in awe of you guys, I am telling everyone about it, speaking to all my vendors/purchasers and colleagues. Hit those oars and smash those miles apart this is so the making of you guys and will be for the rest of your lives. Thewy

"They have learnt to survive in the World's third largest Ocean and they have taken risks not normally taken be experienced sailors" I lie with my head in the suns rays as they shine into the cabin window on our flight over towards Mauritius.Having just dropped down from Dubai and close to the Seychelles, I can see the Indian Ocean below me from 40,000 feet up and there are ice crystals on the windows,minus 67 degrees F outside. The clouds lie like a soft blanket with some billowing to puff them up, which look like trees.The vast Blue Ocean looks calm from here as the deep blue covers the whole of my view for miles around. It goes on for miles and miles ~ and i can't imagine the feeling the boys have had (from the day we left them in Geraldton three and a half months ago) day after day on the surface of that Blue! I have been watching this for several hours as we smoothly fly over, the planes wing is to my left and it cuts it's way through the clean.clear sunshine blue. I can't imagine a tiny boat with our two Hero's in down there,but they are down there somewhere. Very suddenly a clear patch of cloudless sky moves , leaving more tiny white crests,these must be the tops of waves. I imagine their journey and can't grasp the magnitude of the challenge that they are so close to achieving. This is likely to change them for life ~ not many have been here! I looked down over the Indian Ocean twice in April and felt a knotted twist in my stomach, that i know is still there, but I am feeling lots happier at the thought of seeing Guy and Andy very soon!! I am so proud of their powerful, courageous endurance to conquer this world of the deep and wide Indian Ocean. xtina

We can't do much more than cheer you onwards. So it's an extremely loud cheer from everyone in Christchurch. (Actually Katy & I are in Florida, experiencing your sort of heat). Anyway all the very best from all of us.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeesss!! Keep it up boys, can't believe the mileage you've made over the last week. As my old rowing coach used to say, it's the last stretch when you find out if you're men or not. Come on!!

Being sad finding quotes - this is for today!! Real athletes row. Everyone else just plays games. About to leave for Mauritius this morning - have huge moths in my stomach..............! Promise we will get as many photos as poss to send back..............! Claire out

Cummon girls, how hard can it be? Dead proud. More than 1 world record at stake here guy... Jem

200 miles to go, that is AMAZING, come on boys, nearly home! Wohoo! xxx

Just wanted to say that we have been following your progress having a look at your blog a couple of times a week, you both need to write a book, it's been so interesting. keep going nearly there , well done both of you Kim and Phil Tutton. xx

You have made amazing progess since I last logged on. Really good to read Architectural Plants blog and learn more about Guy (!) and also see Tina's comments above. She and Nigel must be so excited to be on their way to Mauritius for a grand reunion. Do hope the last 200 miles go well - "keep right on to the end of the road, keep right on to the end" is all you have to do!!! We all have tremendous confidence in you both after all you have achieved already. On 26 July last year, Guy, you were at Chris and Ali's wedding - what a difference in the two days a year apart! All the very best from us all. Jenny & Peter xx

Boys, 200 miles to go now. That is like from Horsham to my home town Manchester or Madchester as the locals call it. Hope that does not make it sound too far. While reading through the blog from Angus the other day about Guy trecking up and down a mountain at night on his own I remember Del telling me that Guy used to go out running in the middle of the night round Horsham. Maybe he could not sleep, I am not too sure but as soon as I read the blog from Angus I thought that sounds just like Guy in that he likes to go to the extremes. I am sure the Police had a field day in the week with reports of some random jogger at 2am in the morning! I don't know what they put in those ration packs of yours but it is certainly doing the trick. Do you have spinich like Popeye that suddenly makes you stronger. Anyway lads, can't wait to see you again. Not long now, just one final push and you are there. Get in there my son. Laters Chorlts

Last blog from me...off to experience the delights of camping in cornwall! Well done one and all, eyes on the prize! Trumpet xx

Oh Sarah ~ we have loads of CREAM WE JUST NEED A NURSE!!! (looking forward to you getting here.) xT

I can't believe how quickly the miles are being clocked up, a few more days and it will all be over. Simon and I come home each day and the first thing we do is find out how far you have both come and we have been AMAZED at the huge amount you are both doing. Keep going boys, you are so close and we absolutely can't wait to see you. A few questions: 1) Who is close to winning the bet on when they'd arrive??? 2) What are you both looking forward to most about arriving and what are you going to miss most/if anything about the trip? 3) Is the weather becoming calmer as you approach Mauritius? Lots of love Fiona & Simon xxxx

Well done to Rossiters - interesting to read about the boat which has held up so well through all different kinds of conditions out there on the ocean. I can't believe how close the lads are to the shore now! It's really quite amazing: all the effort and hard work over the last couple of years, and now nearly 3,000 miles already covered. Brilliant!

Cannot believe how quickly this has come around....words cannot say how immensley proud we are to say that ure my best mates. Tina, Nigel, Claire and Tom please pass on my best to them when they roll on to dry land. Chris & Sam Thew

Hi Guys - Just went away for the weekend to find on our return that you certainly have been flying and are almost on dry land. Loved the bit about the parrot and the signs that land is in sight. It has become such a big part of our life following your progress - the highs and lows that I shall have to take up a new hobby to fill in the time devoted to you both. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Love Clive and Andy xx

Amazing to think how heavy the boat may have been when the guys started out from Oz Amazing to think they could now be as little as three days from the shore Amazing to think literally how far they've gone especially bearing in mind the sea and weather Amazing to think how many more people know about Orchid because of this race xxx