Charlie's B(oat)LOG
25th January 2010 - Day 19
Yes, a perfect night. This is the first time I can remember the moon lighting up the night sky and ocean. I can almost see the colour of the sky, but certainly the clouds are puffy and the stars, millions of them, are as bright as I have ever seen them. On board, I have no need to use my head torch and can clearly see all the waves as if it was daylight. The wind is dropping and now coming from the ESE, which puts it on my port quarter. A nice angle to slowly help me along.
I have had a good few days of strongish following winds, but the week ahead is going to be very difficult. The wind is forecast to drop and start heading from the wrong direction again. If it is strong enough, I may have to use my sea anchor again. So, I've altered course today to get down a bit further south to try to avoid the worst of it. I am expecting to do more rowing than of recent, so have changed my routine to accommodate this starting from now.
I think if I can get to the end of the week with a few hundred miles under my belt, I'll be happy.
Something completely different - This is about Paul and Jenny Davis, who I have mentioned before. They have a wonderful yacht called Ninita which I had the pleasure of sailing whilst in La Gomera. Well, I can't believe I failed to tell Jenny something really important! Having been a guest on board for Christmas lunch, along with Lea Ditton, who is doing really well in Dreammaker (pairs class), I didn't tell Jenny that my little boat is also called Jenny! How could I have forgot. Well the truth is, my boat was named Jennifer Jill (JJ) by my mother at her launching. So there you go! I hope Jenny finds out, hope so.
My legs are going all thin on me! Emma, make sure you bring out my running shoes to Antigua. Tomorrow, I am rowing all day for a very special little chap. He is running the house in my absence and had a chat with me earlier today. James promised to be nice to mummy if I rowed hard! Deal.
More seriously, I am going to put a little bit more into the next few weeks so need all the encouragement I can get. All my motivation comes from the brilliant messages you all send. They keep me going, so Please keep them coming. I don't feel alone any more as I know how many of you are logging on and following the story. Thanks
Shut eye time.
Posted By: Charlie Pitcher, 25th January 2010 00:13:56
Edited By: Charlie Pitcher, 25th January 2010 00:15:28
CHARLIE!!!!!
your doing amazingly and everyone at school is following you! and thinking what a beast you are to go soooooo fast!!
can't wait to hear all about it when your back and see the photos of whales and flying fish etc..!!
thinking of you! Bella xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Charlie,
You continue to amaze, but then again not really, we know you so well and what you can achieve. Every time we log on you've pushed even further ahead - and again today you've taken another 20 odd miles from Britannia as well.
Love what you're doing Charlie. Keep eating mums cake, that secret weed works. The blogs are really great to read and really set the picture for us.
Keep on pulling!!! Love Kathy and Richard - Perth WA
Charlie
Really enjoying reading your blog and with your descriptions trying to imagine what it must be like with you. Keep up the amazing work and hope that the conditions are favourable for you.
Looking forward to the next instalment...
Love Simon, Victoria, Thomas and Poppy
Charlie,
I visited Darren Hamilton this morning. He was in solitary confinement for doing hand stands in the showers. I managed to get him out explaining that his actions were inspired by your blog, and it was his naive attempt at a bidet.
Thanks for the discription of the sky - I was there dude. May you have many more.
Andy, Sadie, George, Esther and Teddy. x
Hi Charlie,
Amazing progress, you are really flying. Why not bribe a dolphin to pull you through the next storm! We are glued to your little dot and so impressed the way you keep out pacing the others - esp. one certain South African!
Here's one to keep your brain ticking over in between wave watching: 3 men pay £30 for a meal in a restaurant. The waiter takes the money to the cashier who says they have been overcharged, the bill should have been £25 so he gives the waiter £5 change for them. The waiter sees an opportunity for some easy money so pockets £2 giving £1 back to each man who have now paid £9 each for their meal. SO 3 x £9 = £27, the waiter pocketed £2, where has the last £1 gone!!
Happy rowing - stay safe.
Gill, Mark, Luke and Toby
Morning
Sorry about previous post,hit wrong button,lol.
I and my son (7) have been following you....having explained the race so a 7 yr old can understand,he thinks its like paddling in a kayak,we are absolutely amazed at your prgress........keep up the work.
Lee & Ty
Charlie
Keep it up. I tried to paste a ken beken joke, but the computer would not let me. It wasn't that funny anyway!
Just in case u care. The New Orleans Staints and the Indi Colts are playing in the super bowl in 2 weeks! This weekend games were great.
I am making progress on fund raising for you! Keep Rocking I love to follow you!
Doug and Mocha
Ello Charlie. NUFF TALK about fair play you crazy man. Who could fail to notice your meticulous prep in the gym, not to speak of on EVERY other front as well?. Anyways, where there is racing, there is innovaton and you know that. Yotties have been modifying hull design, laminating their sails and cutting toothbrushes in half for decades! So don't feel bad. Personally. I always make a point of taking all the booze off before a race.... which I never feel bad about... until I need a drink!! This is your moment, and you have earned it. I am telling everyone I know about your race because you are in inspiration; a study of the combined power of brain as well as braun .... Look after yourself, be patient and enjoy each day. It will all be over too soon and you will have a store of precious and dazzling memories beyond all the planning, determination and each stroke of an oar that got you there. For the time being, remember that you are not alone cos there are loads of people here bursting with pride and encouragement. If you could see and hear them all, the noise would be frankly deafening! So make the most of the beautiful Atlantic cos it sure as hell is going to be noisy when you get in! Go Charlie! J (an East Coast Sailor!)
Bring your trainers to Antigua. You must be joking Charlie! It's strictly flip flops, slippers and a pipe from now on.
Exx
Hi Charlie,
Outstanding! Your daily progress along track is a delight to watch and enjoy, the passing feeling of isolation for being the leader is a price worth paying for your good planning, preparation and gutsy determination to do well - in which you are doing extemely well.
Take full advantage of the boat design, the following wind and blue skies that you can as I, and everyone else back here are cheering you on to succeed.
The only downside I see for you getting there first is what it will cost you to have the cold beers waiting for the fleet as it arrives....
Keep up the good work both rowing and on the blog and may those trade winds continue to run in your favour.
Bill ( uncomplicated today )
Hello Charlie, We follow your blog every day and so I am delighted to know that your little pocket rocket is called Jenny too!! Thanks for letting me know! We continue to be amazed at your incredible progress and are full of admiration. Following the dots every day is taking up all our time here in Gomera so we have no time to sail Ninita!!
Keep up the good work and look after yourself! Jenny and Paul Davies
Hi Charlie,
I just wanted to say a big thank you for achieving the impossible ... actually getting my Mum interested in going online! Not only that but she's encouraging her more computer-literate friends to check on your progress too. So there's a whole bunch of silver-surfers in Northants now following you.
Had a lovely day with Robin, Lucy, Ellie and Sam on Saturday, and welcomed a new nephew (Graeme's & Bruni's second) on Sunday. No name yet!
Great to see you doing so amazingly well. Love reading your blog and checking the stats. We're all watching and willing you along.
Best wishes.
Andrea & Phil
Hey Charlie Pitcher! Are you keen to go running in Antigua? Seems it might be a good time to put you under pressure. Will have to take advantage of your weakened state! I am finding out if I can run right around the island off road and thought you might have the energy to come along? Glad my sunglasses are working for you and that you have a moth for company. Lucky you! Hang in there and keep strong (but not too strong!) Lots of love, Kim v Kets (ps Pete sends his love too!)
Hallo mate, hope you goy a good nights kip cos you need to get your skates on, looks like you will have the missus waiting for you in Antiga, also sounds to me like she wears the trousers too. Slippers, flip flops and a pipe, HA HA hilareus (some of the blokes in here are smoking pipes but dont think its the usual tobako).
The waiter that Gill is talking about is in here as well and he recons he took all 3 quid and Gills adding up is wrong!
Apparently Andy came in this morning but i have been banged up in solitry so they wouldnt let him see me, gutted realy as I was going to extra lengfs to clean up and make myself look nice for him! Realy hard doing hand stands on a slippery floor, I would have got one of the lads to hold my legs for me, but some of em have been in here for a long time and I didnt trust em.
Hope its all going well Chaz, sounds like you are storming along, we are all rooting for ya mate. Oh and I am glad i took the 2-1 price on you as you have now gone out to 3-1.
ooooh, got to go me porridge is here!!
Smash it mate, drive, drive, drive!!!!!
Darren H
Da
Dear Charlie
You are doing so well - Shaun would be so impressed and we are so proud of you! We are watching the weather and tracking your progress. You have always had mad plans in your life as we know from flat sharing days but this tops them all! It has made Capey's Barcelona Race with 3 months at sea look tame! Keep strong and watch that bottom! XX
Gail and Capey
hello charlie,
you are doing extremely well i even believe you may even take over britianna III, sorry britianna if you see this message.
come on charlie keep it all up. the dolphins have probably been keeping you company.
from your villager.
josh.
Hey Charlie....
I thought I’d help keep your spirits up my telling you my favourite joke.
You may have already heard it but I laugh every time I hear or tell it! Do you remember Stan Boarman the liverpudlian comedian?.......well…..he was on the Des O’Connor show (chat show host) many years ago (when God was a boy, and me too for that matter!). Prior to the 9pm watershed he recalled a story his father had told him about the war….
“My dad was up there in one of those Spitfires flying around looking for the git who had bombed our chip shop, suddenly through his flying helmet he heard “Bandits 6 o’clock!” followed by (at this point you have to really hear the words not read them... if you know what I mean) “There’s Focke’s( obviously pronounce Fokker) below you…..wait.. there’s Fockes above!…Focke’s to your right and left!......Your surrounded by a load of Focke’s!
At this point Des O’Connor was relieved to announce a commercial break…. during this time ITV received a record number of complaints. Des then used ITV’s “get out of jail free card” by announcing “ I should explain to viewers at this point that the Focke Stan is referring to was a Focke Wulf, a German world war II aircraft” Des uttered a sigh of relief, but only momentarily as Stan responded “Yeah but these Focke’s were Messerschmitts!” ………priceless.
Keep pulling on those oars!
hey charlie,
keep going fast,
every one in burnham is watching your progress,
Rory :)
Hi Charlie
Amazing progress! Every time I check in you just keep getting further and further ahead. What an inspiration and an example of meticulous planning and preparation of boat and body!
Love reading your blogs. Amazing support from everyone here for you. Glad to hear you so positive. Keep flying and hope you miss those headwinds.
Adrian
Well done Darling. Keep on rowing! I'm very proud of you.
lots of love
Mum xx
Hi there Charlie! Another excellent blog - we love reading them. We've been reading the comments on your blog and they are very touching...you have many followers and are an inspiration.
Jamie enjoyed all the controversy out in La Gomera about your boat...will it work...won't it..? And he always believed it would, but I don't think anyone was prepared for you to go so well! You are cool and a great althlete. Thinking of you all the time, love Emily and Jamie xxx
Hi Charlie. Just wanted to say that I have been following your voyage with great interest and admiration. Good luck for the remainder. Keep going!
Hi Charlie
Following your blog daily with interest, admiration and amazement at what you're achieving and you really are achieving! Keep up the good work and look after your sore bits!
Sandra xx
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