Charlie's B(oat)LOG
12th February 2010 - Day 40
Just as I thought. Last night was too good to believe. There wasn't any current under me, I was purely cracking along....to welcome the westerley I now have! As much as I tried this morning to fight it(see the track for where I went!)by rowing at 2 miles, drift back .5, row 1.5 miles, drift back 1 mile etc, I decided to throw out the sea anchor at 1230 my time (30 minutes later than Andy Wise, my weather man, predicted by email that actual morning, which I didn't read until ten minutes ago! Cool Weather man!)So after 48 hours of very hard rowing, but with a six hour sleep last night, I can do nothing but rest again. I'm not too upset about this as my body does need a long rest. I've had a good swim and lots of stretching, eating and now lying very quietly and trying not to move too much as it is 32 degrees in the cabin with still air. I'm just on the verge of breaking into a sweat, but not quite! Gently, gently.
I set myself a target of getting beyond 50 degrees West by tomorrow afternoon, but now think this is not likely. However, I am confident that somehow, after monday, I'll make up some time, because 1) I'll be into the last 600 miles, so will naturally put my foot down and 2) I only have enough food to last until 24th Feb, 26th at a squeeze. The weather for next week looks better and I just hope it stays that way for a change.
The equipement we have to carry on board for the race rules is comprehensive including 150 kg of sealed water ballast. We are not allowed to dip into it without being penalised, so although the boat is much lighter than the others (being so small) imagine how much further I may have got if I didn't have to carry the water. My watermaker onboard, is brilliant and never given me any trouble. The best bit of kit on this boat has to be the sea anchor! It stops you drifting backwards like putting a hand break on. The drift rate is reduced by half. The best luxury onboard has to be the SATPHONE. I can speak to anyone at anytime, just like home, but it is seriously expensive!!
Although it has been a frustrating few weeks with little progress, I am focused and know the next two days are going to be tough aswell, but at least the finish is something I can start to think about and seeing my family. I feel for the back markers, like Shaun and James and hope they are getting what they want from this epic voyage and can't wait to hear about their stories in the future.
It was just the last month of training in Burnham last summer, when Cathy Herring came to the rescue and created awareness and a substantial fund raising evening at the Royal Burnham Yacht Club. Diana Bailey - Lewis also came to the help and helped secure further sponsorship for me. Through out my adventure, the Herrings, Bailey - Lewis' and the Galloways have all kept in constant touch and given me encouragement. These people are like my family and know as much about me as my mother does (maybe a little more!) I remember welcoming in Tim, Cathy and the boys at Fort Lauderdale after their crossing in Backlash many years ago. I thought they were amazing to take on such a feat in a full on race boat that normally gets shipped across oceans! Whilst I have time to think out here, it is Burnham on Crouch and the Royal Burnham Yacht Club which are very much part of my life. I really look forward to getting back there and pushing my children out in their own little boats this coming season.
I'm going to give it everything in the last week knowing loved ones will be at the finish and can pamper me, scrub the boat! and bring me back to normality again. But for the time being, it's back to trying to hit that 49 degrees West before the end of today??
I got a great surprise email from the McFarlane Twins all the way from India and have not seen Rob and Anjie for such a long time. I hope all is well if you lot get to read this (Ashton too!).
Posted By: Charlie Pitcher, 12th February 2010 22:17:10
Hi Charlie
Sorry I've been offline for a while but just wanted to say still following you closely and reading the daily blogs - glad to hear you in such buoyant mood (handy in an ocean-going vessel, buoyancy). Raised a glass to you in The Chequers on Thursday and look forward to shouting you a pint of the good stuff on your return. Keep chipping away!
Cheers, Rob
Friday Evening and thinking what it must be like to be where you are now!
Keep going matey! You are rowing brilliantly and you have covered so much distance!
Your achievement is outstanding.
Love
Charlie/Judy/Marina and Ashley Hobday xxxxx
Still doing a fantastic job Charlie, keep up the work rate, stick to the routine and each little personal goal will see more miles fall away! Don't know about the other bloggers but I reckon the best bit of kit on board is probably you.
My kids, like you, now want to become adventurers so I can't wait for the summer to watch them rig their dinghies before gently launching them and returning a month or so later to see how they're getting on - perfect!
Be safe and keep pulling. Regards, Ian
Push Push Push. Your in the final stretch! I've been tracking this whole race since the begining. It's amazing to see how far you've come ( after watching the youtube video of your first night, and how bad you felt). NOW YOUR IN FIRST PLACE! This whole thing ( the race, the idea, etc.) is very inspirational... I had never even heard of such a thing ( ocean rowing) before I stumbled across the woodvale challenge website two months ago. Seriously thinking of having a go at it myself in a year or so. Thanks for the inspiration! God speed.
-Jared
morning (gmt) 7.45
cant not start the dayu with out my reading of the blog what am i to do after the 28th ???
well not much to say but still reading and pushing you on ethan says hello as he is up with me and please find joke or two to make you smile
love and best wishes mate
ken dawn rebecca ethan and bump xxxxx
Well good morning papa it 7 am on Saturday and I am in the print room PRINTING
Lots of work to get done to meet dead line s. My big son is with me at 10 but we have 2000 garments to get done to day Sunday is a day of rest HA HA (GET IN THE REAL WORLD) kids have swimming lessons 8.30 am have to get back run the waist for the bath and sinks as well as doing all the pipe work for the hot and cold water I also have to plumb in the new toilet and sink and run the pipes for the new radiator in the toilet
Dawn is working her shift on Sunday so she will be back after 3 and sit on her bum while I cook the roast dinner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a life I have
Rebecca and Ethan have been of all week from school first time ever they have been off together in fact the longest time they have had of in 6 years but they are just full of snot now and it half term next week so they are of for a week
Re the school we have given our notice and they leave the private school at Easter or just after. When you get out side of the bowl and look in, you then see that what you think is best for your kids in fact it’s not we have been failing them for the last few years the private school was a grade 1 high flying school with a waiting list of 10+ for each year but in the last two years it is now 38 in Essex and only got a grade 2 listing and the parents are taking the kids out each term again we think that 38 would be gone by summer term
Rebecca has been placed in Tirling School which is the top school in Essex and on the national list 50 out of 3800. Ethan is placed at ford end some 11 miles apart but under the sibling rule we can move him in September to tirling its a little bit bull s**** but that is the lea system
So yes we have moved them and we are £17000 $26000 better of “moves us closer to coming to the USA i say “
Me I am fine don’t have enough hours in a day work and the house fill all my time last night I finished at 11pm starting at 5am
But it doesn’t get done!!! If you don’t do it “it won’t do its self” my Nan used to say
I am so pleased that mama is getting better back in the kitchen cooking is a good sign of feeling better give her a hug from us
We are going to get some pic’s done for you and we will send them over as well as bump
We are off to see the surgeon on Thursday who will give us the day the baby will arrive ( 16th July we think ) so will let you know
On the 22dn of March we have the scan to find out if dawn has grown a perfect baby like the first two and we can find out what we will have ???? Not sure I want to know but dawn never like surprises
My big boy has come out top again in his exams so two more years he will be the opera singer that he dreams about with the help from the guild hall of music behind him he should not fail
Well the 27th of this month see’s me hit 51 and i am working harder than when i was 25 but it keeps you young ( i think that is what is said )
I will be checking my loto tickets later fingers crossed i would have won $174000000.00 tax free please god !!!!!
Some one has to win it i am not greedy 1% will do that’s over 1.5 million
Well i will sign of will try and call later if we can
Love and hugs to you both and you keep well and warm
Below please find some jokes that will make you smile
Emma goes to the doctor and asked the doctor for some Viagra for Charlie her husband
The doctor was taken back. Emma he said why do you want Viagra for Charlie he is 98 years of age
You’re not thinking of having sex now areyou you could both die
Emma looks at the doctor and said “ no don’t be so stupid “it to stop Charlie from rolling out of bed at night “
Doctor in the broom field burns unit looks at a chap with 3rd degree burns to his legs
He turns to the nurse and say s give this chap Viagra three times a day
Viagra doctor!!! That not going to help is it?
Yes nurse the doctor said it will keep the sheets of his legs
I got a new stick deodorant today. The instructions said, “Remove cap and push up bottom”.
I can barely walk NOW, but whenever I fart the room smells lovely.
Hi Charlie,
Your blog is so addictive.... keep going you madman you are way ahead and doing a tremendous job. We have all been cheering you on daily.
Just AMAZING!!! Dig deep.
Love & Hugs
Fogs & the McLeod-Jones clan xxxx
Hi there Charlie,
I love reading your blog and really enjoy reading everyone’s else’s emails to you. Perhaps when this is all over you could keep the blog going and tell us of all you adventures back home!
I have 2 important questions to ask. 1. Do you have any chocolate on board, if not how have you managed to survived without it, any hints and tips would be very much appreciated. 2. Why can't you use Skype?
Lastly I'm going to leave you with a little poem,
I wish I were a glow worm A glow worms never glum Cos’ how can you be grumpy When the sun shines out your bum!
Keep the sun shining out of yours!
Love Lesley Xx
Great work, Charlie. We're all behind you (though we can't push!)
Nicholas Hinde
What happened to my poem?! Here it is again and hopefully it makes more sense this time!!
Iwish I were a glow worm
A glow worms never glum
Cos' how can you be grumpy
When the sun shimes out your bum!
Anyway, the kids and I have just been watching you on youtube and then I googled you, the list goes on for ever and ever! Then I googled myself, it was a very disappointing result! By the time I'd finished all that I was about to leave for my 90 minute yoga class in a room heated to 40 degrees (not much hotter than the inside of your boat) I sadly realised I had been so lost in the world of Charlie Pitcher for so long that my class had started without me. So here I am, back again reading all the emails.
Take care and be safe.
Love
Lesley
Hi Charlie - here is my favourite joke of all time!
I man decides he wants a pet - but something that is unusual and special - something the guys at the pub will be impressed with. He finally finds exactly what he is looking for - a (very very expensive) talking millipede. He takes his new pet home and leaves him to settle in. That evening he carefully opens the little match box and asks if the millipede would like to go to the pub. He listens and waits but no answer - he waits another ten minutes then opens the box again and asks again if he would like to go to the pub......................... then he hears a tiny little voice from the box 'give me a chance - I'm putting my shoes on!'
Keep it up Charlie - my thoughts are with you as always!
Cxxx
We hope you will row so fast we will get to see you before we leave Antigua. We will be sitting on the dock at Nelsons Dockyard with a huge rum punch for you. We have a landline number ready for you and all bases covered. Fingers crossed. Steve has a huge list of interesting activities lined up for the boys...oh dear!!! Take care and wishing you a speedy end to your brilliant endeavour. x
Keep going mate!!
Best Luck and love from Andy & Sandy
Mad Dog Lesley - That mad me laugh, I did the very same the other day!!! haha. google schmoogle, we're still amazing.
See you soon charlie keep it up!
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