Atlantic Six Enjoy a Rewarding Day
( Last Updated: 20-01-2008 )
In the 24 hours ending at noon today (Sunday 20th January), the Atlantic Six recorded their best run of their journey so far covering 101 statute miles (88 nautical miles). This will have come as a welcome relief to the crew who had experienced two frustrating days last Thursday and Friday.
As Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger continued to make its way further south they caught the edge of a weather system making its way across the Atlantic. The winds dropped, the sea went flat and a haze set in. This made for hard rowing, even harder compared with similar conditions that were experienced a week or so ago. But the lack of wind also meant that the wind turbine did not turn and the haze significantly reduced the output from the solar panels. Reduced power meant that the desalinator plant did not work to full capacity and power had to be reserved for the other essential services. The low output from the desalinator meant that fresh water had to be rationed, which was a real blow as despite the haze and the lack of direct sun, the temperature at midday crept over 40°C.
Thankfully the weather has now taken a significant turn for the better and the forecast is that they can expect a favourable wind and reasonable sea conditions all the way to Antigua. The crew got a boost when they finally made it south of 18N and again when the crossed the 50W line.
The Atlantic Six realise that they will not be able to beat the excellent new record of 33days 8 hours and 30 minutes set by La Mondiale on Thursday and wish to congratulate La Mondiale's crew on their fine achievement. But the Atlantic Six remain determined to bring Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger into Antigua inside the old record of 35 days 8 hours and 30 minutes. In doing so they would also knock several hours off the record for a sculling boat crossing the Atlantic that was set by a British crew in "Queensgate" in 2004.