Hard Graft on the Oars
( Last Updated: 09-01-2008 )
The flat weather of recent days has made for hard graft on the oars. The light variable winds and the comparatively calm sea does not provide the bounce that brings Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger to life and makes for more interesting, easier and productive rowing. The sea may be crystal clear but it feels more like rowing in a thick pea soup or doing very long shifts on the ergo (rowing machine) at level 10 (the highest resistance) or even 12! For the first time in over a fortnight we have come off shift really feeling the aches in our muscles.
We are operating a complex shift system. In the heat of the day we each do a couple of 90 minute rows. In the evening we row for two or 2½ hours each, then ‘joy of joys' a four hour shift followed by four hours sleep but not before we have treated our own or each other's wounds depending on their accessibility. In the morning it's back to 2 hour shifts and another day has passed! We cook our meals when there are only two of us rowing. Overall we row slightly more than 12 hours in any 24 hours, which enables us to keep the boat moving even in the recent less helpful conditions. Incidentally we are now two hours behind GMT and will put our watches back another hour soon.
We have had a few minor problems. One of our fresh water makers (desalinators) finally seems to have given up but the other provides enough for our needs. We also had a power shortage when overcast skies did not sustain the solar panels and the breeze was not strong enough to turn the wind turbine. All is now well but it has taken two days to restore our reserves and recharge our supply of batteries.
As we edge slowly South and rather faster West we are beginning to see more wildlife. We are regularly visited by a few small birds that we take to be Storm Petrel. We have seen our first shark and a pod of small dolphins. We also have an unconfirmed sighting of a whale. Flying Fish are everywhere and we have admired some spectacular sunsets.
In the last 24 hours the sea has started to come to life again with both the breeze and the waves picking up. As to our bums, well mine is "rowable" and the others are just sore! We are hoping that the forecast of more exciting and favourable weather comes to pass as we could really do with the help to push us along. As it is we are pleased to have caught the tail enders of The Race that started from La Gomera three weeks before us and look forward to working our way through the fleet as we continue to row for the record!
Transcribed from a telephone call from George at 11.30 hours GMT 9 Jan 08