Charlie's B(oat)LOG
8th February 2010 - Day 36
I'm posting a short report as I am down on power and want to make sure this goes out before the laptop does!
Ship's log - compass 270T doing 3.2 knots in a slightly calmer sea than this afternoon, but with a gentle breeze. This is the best state for JJ. Long may it last (I think not!). It is 2230 GMT and the temperature inside the cabin is a cooool 26 degrees! I've just had Potato and Salmon with chilli peanuts and a hot chocolate - about 1,000 calories. I'm just about to play Doctors and Nurses on my hands and bum, but nothing serious, just wanted to mention I'm quite a dab hand at this kind of thing now.
I've mentioned different states from previous blogs, but thought I would re-cap the different conditions we have out here in a rowing boat and what it is like for each one.
Dead calm, no wind - So boring, whilst rowing, keep up the strokes otherwise the boat looses momentum. Whilst resting, it is not too bad as the boat will only drift at about .5 knot.
Calm, slight headwind - Not good, as I know I can only row forward at a very slow pace with a lot of strain on the oars. Then when resting you go backwards, but not enough to launch the sea anchor.
Headwind anything more than 10knots - Compulsory rest time. If I can't make the correct heading at 120 degrees off the headwind, then out goes the sea anchor and time to sort out the mess, charge batteries, scrub the boat etc.
Flat water, new following wind - Yeah, bring it on! The little waves start to build up with the breeze, the autopilot hardly moves and I just tap away and watch the speed go up.
Big sea, big wind - Exciting, but although the autopilot can steer a far more accurate course than me, it can suddenly through a tantrum and I have found myself broadside with breaking waves over the lot. However, when all is under control, this is when I'm singing The Beech Boys and planing.
Dropping wind, still big sea! - Really bad, bad, bad! After the wind dies down (often!) the sea gets all confused and this is what I call rush hour. It is impossible to get the boat moving as it gets thrown around violently and when I start getting my legs smashed up and start straining muscle tissue.
So today I have eventually got to grips with why I am out here (didn't take long!) and the causes, the dreams, the stories to tell later and what it would be like all alone for along time in an environment like this. It suddenly dawned on me that as soon as I started "the race", I needed to get finished as quickly as possible, nothing else mattered. The frustration of two gales and two dead calms then put to bed the thought of a new solo record and I've been down about just these points. I don't know what switch was thrown yesterday, but I now am very happy and am at one with the boat, settling into a good rhythm and not bothered about how long it takes to finish (well just a little bit!). I know there is another bad spell of weather on it's way, maybe more, but I am now ready to be part of it, not to fight it.
With 900 miles to go, I am just so excited about the real race going on between QBE and Karekura 250 miles behind me. It would be absolutely amazing if we came into Antigua 1st and 2nd. I know the boys have played their cards right and now they are starting to play their joker.
For Robert and Caroline in La Gomera, I hope all is well there and thanks for the bag trick! Very impressed. Again, I have to mention Richard Power who is doing a sterling job keeping brother in law up to date on all matters and by no means least, Ian Dean, who's trail of stories, updates on my boys, Clemmie and Henry's messages, are all great as well.
I think we still have fair wind tomorrow, so it's a Sprinty McGinty day.
Another quick hot chocolate and head down for a few hours.
Posted By: Charlie Pitcher, 8th February 2010 23:11:02
Edited By: Charlie Pitcher, 8th February 2010 23:12:36
Charlie,
To the hero I am proud to call my brother, thinking of you all the time, and physically sending my thoughts in a South Westerly direction from Cowes to you.
The end is getting closer now, but life won't be the same again, and it won't be just you who has changed.
Counting the days until we see you.....
Your little sister Katie x
Hi Charlie,
Just so so good buddy! Still amazed with what you have achieved, you mad bugger - doing so well! Ollie and James are now 2nd and pushing hard. Go you Burnham boys!
Much love from us. Richard and Kathy - Perth
All supporting you back here at Felsted School ... the OF office is even tracking you now too! Glad you are back in happy mode and at one with your amazing boat ... off to lunch with your lovely wife Emma today to hopefully raise some more funds for your amazing cause.
Big hugs and super strength vibes from us all.
Sophy
xx
Hi Charlie, just spent the weekend here in Majorca with Guy & Sarah, as usual really great fun, cooked them a black rice paella with too much red vino as usual, then a gander at your blog followed by 'we had it really tough in North Sea 1856, Fastnet 1857' you know ....the usual sort of Yachtie chit chat bullshit! Have to say I'm not easily impressed and think that you're a chip of the old proverbial P block with knobs on, a really phenomenal performance...cometh the moment...cometh the man...
Ron & Annette xx
Hi Charlie! Congratulations on your fantastic performance and many thanks to you and all your family and friends for the words of encouragement sent to Olli and James. They certainly seemed to have responded positively to all the messages of goodwill and, fingers crossed, a Burnham 1 and 2 is now a distinct possibility. Take care and warmest wishes, Ed & Susie Back.
Right Charlie,
You.ve got to get there first - I sure you know it - just remember the long uphill climb in the last section of the cross-country course at Aberlour - you did it age 12 there with real distinction. Pile it on!!!
Congratulations does far. You've done brilliantly.
A
Hi Charlie,
Here's a conundrum that's become quite famous and dates back to a real American quiz show format. Fittingly I first got asked this by a fellow passenger on a flight from London to New York. Its deceptively obvious!
You're a contestent in a gameshow in the final round. Just you and three doors. Behind one of which is your dream aston martin (with zero bum-sore sumptuous leather seating!!). The host asks you to choose the door which you think hides the car. A, B or C. You choose A at random. He knows where the car is and to get the audience excited, he opens the door marked C which he knows would reveal no car. Then he turns to you and says, do you want to stick with door A or change your mind and choose door B. Do you change or not?
No getting the support crew to google for answers :-)
Elliot
Hi Charlie - That was a long report (!) and full of useful info for us to build a picture of all your loved and hated rowing conditions. Thank you!
It snowed yesterday! I've bought a new bikini!
You must mention Katie, your little sister! I have been mentioned twice although I know one was my birthday. She loves you just as much as me (maybe not!) but has had no access to the net with thanks from BT! I know she has found it very frustrating not being so involved.
Spending hours trying to find accommodation in Antigua. Bloody hard and bloodyexpensive! Anyone out there got a little pad near English Harbour for Katie, Richard and I and the beautiful Livvy Trench (camerawoman extraordinaire!) 20th Feb to 5th March? Any ideas accepted with gratitude! Charlie - YOU WILL ARRIVE IN THIS PERIOD!
Charlie we are wishing you a quick passage from now on. The family want to feed you up as we are a little anxious as to how you might be looking! Those photos of Ben and James keep springing to mind.
Love you and happy rowing.
Ginny Pig xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hi Charlie
Well what can be said 890 miles to go my USA friends are now putting the date of arrival as 28 Feb?
I still plump for the 3 march that’s looking at yours blogs and thinking about the bad weather coming in
I was sitting with dawn Rebecca and Ethan (both of school with really bad colds) talking about being out there all alone, but I pointed out you get lots of emails every day so you are not all alone and talk to emma and the boys each week
Ethan still says I should do it BUT can’t see that my self
Just amazed by your hard work leading from the front the only place you know !!!!!!
Dawn got a little excited when you said your hands and bum needed some massage she is keen on that bum bit I think !! ha ha ha ha
Any way keep well rest and stay strong mate I close with a little joke that made me smile
Love and best wishes
ken dawn Ethan Rebecca and bump ( that’s the new one on its way ) xxx
An Irishman walks into the bedroom with a sheep on a leash and says,
"Honey, this is the cow I make love to when you have a headache."
The wife, lying in the bed reading a book, looks up and says,
"If you weren't such an idiot, you'd know that's a sheep, not a cow."
The guy replies, "If you weren't such a presumptuous bitch, you'd realize I was talking to the sheep."
890 MILIES TO GO SOUND LIKE YOUR ARE GOIN LLIKE THE TGV......!
LOVE R and E
Yahoo! I just searched for your name and you came up as the first 12 (with the exception of 11 - ' a farm worker in the Bride Valley in Dorset' )- how incredible is that!!!
Your achievements know no bounds - Respect.
Love Jo x
i've been following you for the last 2 weeks from delhi. sort of stalking because you've not known that every morning i've been reading your midnight blogs, willing you nice wind in the right direction and gentle waves, but also hoping you get a bit of a surf too. thank you for all the explanations of the different conditions you're facing out in the Atlantic. quite an ocean to cross, you're doing brilliantly, not long now. we're just about to go skiing in the Himalayas, there's been a huge dump of snow. will keep you posted.
Kate
Charlie, am awesome performance. Keep it going.
Sean
Hey Charlie
You make me chuckle :-D
A sprinty mcginty day?! No doubts you will row it far faster than sprinty - I was worried for a minute that you had your Roz's muxed ip again!!
Gosh - great news pieces are being written up about Charlie from Felstead leading the pack as a solo rower and so they should be! I cant believe its now only 873 miles to the finish line - you're gonna get there in no time - and no slowing up cos you're enjoying yourself too much out there ;-)
I'm liking the sound of all your nursing skills - my nurse has just resigned so if Neal wont have you back I reckon I could use your wound care knowledge ;-)
The weather is turning here - back to chilly old temperatures and snow forecast in a day or two so I may be back on the old concept 2 keeping you company for a while ;-)
Anyhoo, enough of my rambling. I hope you are enjoying your Christmas music(!!) I'm off to give the boys on the QBE challenger a kick up the bum from you.....
Happy rowing
Roz x
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