Day 111 - It’s Waves Sir, Thousands Of Them
August 27, 2009 – 8:58 amYesterday turned up as a bit of surprise. We were tootling along making rather nice progress when the wind started to pick up. We knew it should a bit but the sea got bigger and bigger as the wind gained in strength. Bo tends to get fairly wet on deck and so a few sploshes here and there are par for the course but when I got knocked off my seat and ended up sitting on the floor (sorry deck) it became clear that it was a little more aggressive than expected.
Gradually the wind and waves came round as darkness fell pushing us ever further south until we put the sea anchor in to stop us ending up in Hawaii (nice though that would have been).
Rowing in large swell is a bit of an art especially when there’s no moon and you’re trying to row across them rather than with them. You need to look above where you think the horizon is because that’s where the breaking waves are going to come from. When you see the white foamy surf of a breaking wave (sometimes several times the height of the cabin) emerge from the darkness you’ve just got to try and get the boat as perpendicular as possible in whatever time you have.
Generally this isn’t much time at all and as Mick found out last night this can be significantly reduced if your night vision is disrupted. The easiest way for this to happen would be for your rowing partner to switch the white light on in the cabin to try and find a hat. Then with your night vision completely ruined it becomes a watery, foamy, wavy lottery which generally you’re going to loose and get wetter.
After a bouncy night on the sea anchor the wind has died down a bit and so have the waves so we’re back on the oars. Hopefully September is going to bring more settled weather but somehow I have a feeling that as autumn approaches steady conditions are going to become fewer and farther between.
One thing we have discovered is the syrup pudding that forms part of our ‘wet meal’ rations. This is approximately 99% sugar and leaves you feeling a bit funny before collapsing in a diabetic coma ten minutes later. Great for limited periods of swift activity but not quite so good when you then have to row for two hours.
37°32′29”N 160°28′10”W
Chris & Mick travelled 22.1 miles South-East (heading 144.5°) on day 111
They ended 2063.0 miles from San Francisco (8.7 miles closer than yesterday)
They covered miles 3010 to 3019 of the trip
Their average pace so far has been 27.2 miles/day towards San Francisco
They have 75.9 days remaining at this rate, so would arrive in San Francisco on 10 Nov 2009
Their target heading for the shortest route to San Francisco is East-North-East (heading 77.6°)
See where the boat is
Sponsor Thanks
Thanks today go firstly to Ron Knights, who sponsored miles 3001-3005. The boys covered these in the early hours of yesterday morning. According to Chris’ Dad, Ron was ‘the best youth club leader on the planet’, and numbered Dad Martin among his charges in the 1960s.
Secondly thanks to John Hanafin & Cynthia Nicholas who sponsored miles 3010-3014 (covered very shortly after Ron’s miles yesterday morning). They would like to say to the crew:
“Keep up the good work lads and we look forward to seeing you for a beer in pats or somewhere similar when you return.”
Would you like to sponsor a mile?
Click on Mick and Chris to see where the boat is
10 Responses to “Day 111 - It’s Waves Sir, Thousands Of Them”
For some reason my comment has not appeared so i’ve hit submit again, no doubt at some point it will appear twice making me look a right fool. I am not happy.
By Biff on Aug 27, 2009
EXCITING CONDITIONS! That’s the kind of talk that makes me wildly jealous. Nothing like a bit of moster wave action to keep you on your toes and makes you speed along like demons - almost 60 miles yesterday. Let’s hope you get some more of what I call ‘bust a move big wave surfing’.
By Margaret on Aug 27, 2009
Biff, you’ve clearly been moderated. Was it the joke about MJ being turned in to plastic bags?
By Laser.Beam on Aug 27, 2009
Hi Biff - your comment isn’t anywhere on the system (e.g. waiting to be moderated or anything like that). try again?
By Richard on Aug 27, 2009
Thank you webmaster Richard!
Right Chris… I’m clearly having the same sort of luck with electrical equipment that you have had on Bo, admittedly my situation is a little easier to solve and slightly less life threatening! It also does not involve sea anchors, soldering irons or solar panels but there you go.
I’ve forgotten what I wrote now anyway, somethining comparing Chris to a cross between Ray Mears and Nigella Lawson probably.
And no L.B I leave the poor taste to you, as you well know I don’t like that sort of thing, I am easily offended and very precious. I’m reporting you to Points of View immediatley.
By Biff on Aug 27, 2009
Is this part of the new script for the digitally re-mastered version of ‘The Cruel Sea’ and ‘In Which We Serve’?
Ahh, I shall have to stand to attention now - oh look, part of me already is ….
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Aug 27, 2009
Hi Chris and Mick
Maybe you should have gone to Hawaii…. I am told that the weather there is always sunny, warm and calm…. but then again, that would be deviation from the object of your adventure! So keep rollin’, rollin’ rollin’, keep them rollers rollin’, Rawhide! (Hope yours isn’t too raw…). So, Keeeeeep smilin’, keeeeeep rowin’ (in between rollers) and keeeeeeeep safe.
By Sue from Cornwall on Aug 27, 2009
I’m not sure if you’ve been reminded recently just how proud we are of you both…….but we are……VERY!
Mindful of the positive value of trivia in freeing the mind, expanding the horizons and generally giving you something else to think about, here’s today’s helping, in no particular order!
Two definitions from the Now Show:
Misfit - a good-looking teacher.
Diagnostic - a Welshman uncertain of the existence of God.
Unlikely fact - The real name of Levi Roots, the producer of ‘Reggae Reggae Sauce’ as featured on ‘Dragons’ Den’, is………..Keith. I kid you not!
Stephen Fry has lost 6 stones in weight since January 2009. He’s now a mere 15 stone!
I heard we’ve just had the wettest July since 1888.
Grateful for external confirmation, but I also heard that the TV station ‘Dave’ used to be called ‘UK Gold’, and that ‘Virgin Radio’ station is now known as ‘Absolute’.
I was going to keep you fully informed of all developments to do with brother Mike’s house purchase but unfortunately, Mike’s Exchange of Contracts started out as Mikesexchange, and I didn’t want to frighten you in the middle of the Pacific! [Afternote: Completion HAS now taken place]
The second most famous ‘Bo’ in the world is the neutered male Portuguese Water Dog, adopted by America’s first family of President Barack Obama. I’ll leave it to the creative talents of others to expand on this!!!
As ever, take care, guys.
By Dad Martin on Aug 27, 2009
What about ‘Bo’ Duke (pron Dooke) of Bo, Luke & Daisy Duke, AKA The Dukes of Hazzard?
Or Bo Diddley
Or Beau Geste (can I have that one?)
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Aug 28, 2009
Waves boys im dreading them i am doing hawaii ironman oct 10th so i am praying for flat seas ,dont send those waves my way.awesome job boys keep safe an love to bo.
By jenny b on Aug 28, 2009