Charlie's B(oat)LOG
25th January 2010 - Day 20
My third ship sighted today and not far off. Probably about five miles away steaming towards Europe from the South America direction. There has been little wind today, which makes it hard on the oars to get the boat rolling. The strain put on my back makes for compulsory stops to rest it well. It would be just great if Dino from Physio at Work, one of my sponsors, was in Antigua ready to recieve this crumbling body and massage it back into shape! I hear on the grapevine that this Kiwi who taught me how to row has had his offer of marriage accepted by Jules. Wey Hey!
The light winds have allowed me to do some housework, so I was able to dive the boat again and give her a scrub. Just aswell, these horrible little "snotty" leach type creatures had attached themselves to the hull and looked to be growing by the minute. It took an hour to scrape and brillo the bottom and now it is nice and smooth again. I also had a much needed scrub myself including a shave. I feel like a new man! So all in all, we are in tip top condition and everything working well. It's funny, but with a shave, I feel so much more active, fresh and clean. It's really good for my mind.
What have I been up to? - Over the last few days, I've gone right through all my Dire Straits and Beethoven, playing the Pastoral several times (reminds me of Mum!), have thought about Princess Diana and remember exactly where I was when I heard of her death and listened to John Simpson's journalist accounts. Amazing man, how I would love to spend a few hours with him. Then there are all the crazy ideas I am storing in my mind for the future.
A few people commented on Lemming and his comments on my website. Yes, he and I go back to childhood. I nicknamed him Lemming and he nicknamed me Blueskies. The reason? I had the optimistic ideas and he did daredevil things like climing a 12 metre forestay unattached. He is also a round the world yachtsman, successful businessman and Godfather to my daughter Lottie.
Apart from the odd flying fish landing in my cockpit, the savage sun and heat during the day, there is not much else to say on this front, but I was wondering if someone might let me know how everyone in the fleet is doing? I know about the first half a dozen boats, but how are Tom and Richard, JCT, Montanaro, our Jersey girls etc doing? I would love to know.
I met another amazing person in La Gomera who gave me her very expensive sunglasses to wear as we were about to leave (the first time!)and I'd lost my spare pair over the side. She is going to run around South Africa!! Yes, the perimeter of the whole country. Kim Van Kets has been in touch with Emma and we are all looking forward to seeing each other again whilst we wait for Pete to turn up (ha ha!...hope this doesn't backfire!). I'm rowing for Kim tomorrow and hopefully will beat her husband's daily mileage, but with no wind it's going to be evens Stevens!
Please wind come back, I can only go on so long before my body will go on strike.
Posted By: Charlie Pitcher, 25th January 2010 23:55:03
Edited By: David Lidstone, 25th February 2010 11:45:16
hey charlie
we've been sent here by the fabulous andy wilkins - what you're doing is great, keep up the fantastic work. some of us get seasick just by looking at a boat!
Very dear of you Charlie Pitcher! But lets test your committment here Charlie! If you are really rowing for me then put your para anchor out for the day! Have a good one! Lots of love, Kim
PS I am happy with Emma's plan to chain you to a sun lounger in Antigua, it will be a great handicap for you on our run!
Hi Charlie, am still impressed at your performance and probably that of your tub!
I still have this mental image of your being moored up in La Gomera and despite all your great blogging proving otherwise ,i cant shake it off. Just love the detailed blogs...first place I head for when i log on , followed by the other prolific bloggers Mick and Lia on Dream Maker. Blogging varies wildly.Your teams,producing a book a day to some not at all,with others in between finding little to say. Still i trawl through them all ,looking for amusing snippets to forward to that Jersey boat Mission Atlantic.
Current position for Mission(Missy) is 18 01 60N 29 16 24W and the French team Vivaldi,which is well ahead for now is 19 05 24N 32 25 02W
Missy have quite deliberately been heading South West for days and are apart from Brittania, the most Southerly boat. In the last two days Vivaldi who are approximately 200nm ahead, have changed course and are now on about 220degrees. Missy are hoping to get some benefit from being low down but who knows what will happen over the next week as some fickle winds are approaching with some WNW some distance away......dont want to meet those!
Should mention that Jo was out of action for 5 days due to a knee injury about mid January but is now back sculling albeit with a fixed seat.
Neither of these teams is seriously into blogging so its difficult to get a feeling of the atmosphere on board.
They like you reported sighting a massive pod of Dolphins early last week. They estimate that there was possibly a thousand of them.
mic
Hi Charlie
Worth noting you have now covered over 1100 nautical miles in just 3 weeks - phenomenal! Keep it up.
Best, Rob
Hi Charlie,
I have been reading your blog and tracking your progress daily... It's a brilliant distraction from the revision I should be doing! You are doing so incredibly well!! I know everyone is proud of you and constantly thinking about how you are getting on. Everyone is hooked on your story, even all my uni friends keep asking how you are doing! You have got so far in 3 weeks and your position as leader of the fleet is brilliant! Keep up the good rowing and keep the blogs coming, they are much more interesting than learning about heresy in the middle ages... trust me!! Thinking of you.
Love Sophie X
G'day C..
Wow.. great going bud, you are absolutely motoring.. Julianne and I are stoked with your efforts. I hope you are still in good shape and one piece out there. We have been following your blogs day by day, they have been great and I look forward to every one. You are seeing and experiencing some amazing stuff.
NZ was great, proposed to J lakeside at her favourite place in the world, both families were there, will spare you the details for now, but it was perfect. And she said 'YES'!! I'm over the moon!!
Otherwise you're not missing too much here in London, we seem to be going through another cold patch now with possible snow forecast for Friday!! yay can't wait!! Supposed to be training for that Rome marathon, but reading your blogs in the warmth of the physio room is much more enjoyable!!
Missing you round the gym though, so make sure you stay safe and look after yourself out there.
Much Love,
Dino and Julianne
Here goes a story:
There was once a rabbit, Tom, who had never met a wolf. Young wold, Loulou, had never met a rabbit. Tom and Loulou became good friends.
Loulou grew and Tom taught him how to play marbles, to read and to fish for eating. Loulou taugh Tom to run very fast, faster than the other rabbits. Loulou also taught Tom fear. Sometimes they played fear-the-wolf, sometimes they played fear-the rabbit.
One day, Loulou scared Tom
Here goes a story:
There was once a rabbit, Tom, who had never met a wolf. Young wold, Loulou, had never met a rabbit. Tom and Loulou became good friends.
Loulou grew and Tom taught him how to play marbles, to read and to fish for eating. Loulou taugh Tom to run very fast, faster than the other rabbits. Loulou also taught Tom fear. Sometimes they played fear-the-wolf, sometimes they played fear-the rabbit.
One day, Loulou scared Tom so
One day, Loulou scared Tom so much that Tom ran into his burrow and decided never to come out. Tom dreamt the wolf was huge, balck and red, and that he ate him. Loulou thought their friendship was over.
He went sadly into the mountains. One night, wolves attacked Loulou, mistaking him for a rabbit. That night, Loulou learned fear-the-wolf.
Loulou went to Tom. He told him that he understood. He would never scare him again. And Tom came out of his burrow.
LOOLOU de Gregoire.
I hope you enjoy the story. Keep that incredible work! For the ones who understand!. The GREATEST Andrew Wilkins sent me here.All the best.
X MIMI
1. 4 JJ (Insure & Go) (Solo) 26/01/2010 13:02 19°04'46 N 37°12'39 W 2.31 56.33 55.32 1407 2. 15 Karukera (Pairs) 26/01/2010 12:02 21°38'13 N 34°53'52 W 1.57 38 37.63 1546 3. 9 QBE Insurance Challenger (Pairs) 26/01/2010 13:02 20°01'38 N 33°28'33 W 2.18 52.34 52.34 1620 4. 19 Roberto Coin (Pairs) 26/01/2010 13:02 19°33'36 N 33°08'54 W 2.01 49.38 48.22 1638 5. 47 Patience (Pairs) 26/01/2010 11:02 19°54'43 N 32°59'13 W 1.51 36.51 36.24 1647 6. 53 HCL Workforce 1 (Pairs) 26/01/2010 13:02 19°48'02 N 32°38'58 W 2.15 52.01 51.56 1666 7. 25 Vivaldi (Rames Dames) (Fours) 26/01/2010 13:02 18°59'14 N 32°32'57 W 1.3 37.5 31.17 1672 8. 15 Reason Why (Pairs) 26/01/2010 13:02 20°32'47 N 32°17'47 W 1.87 44.85 44.83 1687 9. 14 Nyamezela (Solo) 26/01/2010 13:02 20°19'00 N 32°14'35 W 1.53 36.74 36.7 1690
is sending the good wind to Charlie.
Charlie
Was in England last week BoC and IOW. At a dinner with Rich and Katie one night we talked about your row. Rich was talking about it in terms of numbers of Fastnets, just mind blowing! Past over your head on the way back to the US on Saturday; as they say, nothing goes up wind or down wind better than a Jet Engine but God knows what you do to top the experinece of rowing that distance! Keep going, awesome job!
Very best
Boycy
Hey Charlie, we too are looking forward to you back running again mate. Saw your blog last week and I'm sure you want to get those land legs going again asap. My thumbs are ready for action if you need them, but I reckon you will need some TLC 1st which I just don't do !! You are doing fantastic, lets pray for the wind so you can keep up the pressure on the rest of the fleet.
cheers Howard & Katia xx
Hi Mate, hope your happy with your progress coss everyone back here thinks its ammasing. You are the main man, a touch of class, "Charlie Pitcher" the man the rest of the fleet are following all of them trying to get into second place. Your determination is inspiring, we are all willing you on with good speed and perfect waves. Love reading your blogs seems like the Charlie Picher Fan Club is growing.
Well Done keep going. Chip Emma Harry & Rory
Hey Charlie
What can I say that everyone else hasn't already. We are amazed by your brilliance (although we knew you could do it). We are following your progress avidly and are constantly amazed by your lead! Just keep doing what you're doing as it is working, so well. And remember how many friends are willing you on and on and on. Perhaps Shaun is giving you an extra push every so often!?!
God bless and safe rowing.
Love the Hobdays
PS. When this is over perhaps you could have a word with the England Rugby team about drive, determination, motivation and achievement! Just a thought!!
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