Day 153 - Ready To Pounce
October 8, 2009 – 8:30 amThese days on the sea anchor are ultimately infuriating. Not only is is keeping us from making progress but with us relatively close to finishing it really feels like it’s keeping us from everyone we want to see and everything we want to do. Wasted time. It’s horrible BUT it can’t and won’t last forever. Hopefully by the time you read this we will have slipped the bonds of the sea anchor for the final time and be on the oars once again.
The weather report suggests that we’ll get a strong blow from the south before getting a shove east so don’t be surprised if you see us heading nearly due north, it’s all part of the plan and the best chance we have for making landfall at San Francisco.
We’ve not even nearly caught up on sleep yet but are feeling well rested and have had the chance to mend the data connection which is an absolute life line for us. Mick has been without any communications for the vast majority of his other trips but I’ve always had it and it becomes a real pick-me-up for the rest of the day.
Please can everone keep their fingers crossed for the next 4 weeks or so that we have fair winds and don’t need to stick this sea anchor back into the sea. It’s saved us lots of time because we haven’t been blown back as far as we would have been without it but that doesn’t make it any easier when the wind pushes us back. Hopefully the weather won’t have a chance to change again before we get in so this should be the final sea anchor retrieval moment… but keep your fingers crossed just in case.
39°41′12”N 137°46′8”W
Chris & Mick travelled 6.7 miles West (heading 262.5°) on day 153
They ended 832.9 miles from San Francisco (6.5 miles further away than yesterday)
They covered miles 4255 to 4249 of the trip
Their average pace so far has been 27.8 miles/day towards San Francisco
They have 30.0 days remaining at this rate, so would arrive in San Francisco on 7 Nov 2009
Their target heading for the shortest route to San Francisco is East (heading 94.0°)
See where the boat is
Click on Mick and Chris to see where the boat is
24 Responses to “Day 153 - Ready To Pounce”
Chris I have everything crossed for you and am willing conditions to change - it must be infuriating especially being so close and with the progress you had been making recently! x
By Natalie on Oct 8, 2009
Great strength you are showing guys, to sit it out until the conditions are right to row. Fingers, and everything else crossed for you to have the ‘right kinda wind’ from here to GGB. When you land and reflect, you will see that this period of rest has been timed perfectly for the most incredible finish….
Stay safe and enjoy your renewed energy levels when you get back on the oars… 55 miles today please gents!
By Dizzie Blonde on Oct 8, 2009
Hi Guys! More miles 55+ today and more more miles over the next few days. No more sea anchor! Don’t get agitated! You both have been sporty and that’s the spirit. Winners you are. 30 children raised their imaginary hands up! up! this morning. U sure know what that signifies! 60 miles 2day! Lots of love from Hearts of Gold Hospice. Stay well, stay safe and highly spirited!
By Theresa Hearts of Gold on Oct 8, 2009
“don’t be surprised if you see us heading nearly due north, it’s all part of the plan.”
I know it’s easy to judge from afar - from the comfort of Laser HQ - but your plan is awful.
You need to have a serious word with yourselves if when you sat down and did your passage plan, you planned to head due north.
By Laser.Beam on Oct 8, 2009
Hi Guys,
Goodluck today and hope you get pished in the right direction again so you can be well on your way back.Don’t worry you are almost there… ;-)Kisses
By Grace Dawson on Oct 8, 2009
Well done guys - crossing everything for the wind to change direction for you (just make sure that you’re not both pulling silly faces when it does!).
Loving the photos yesturday, more please.
By Max on Oct 8, 2009
Lord we’re rowing, upon thine ocean
But your mate Neptune’s stopped our motion.
So Lord please sponsor, one good cause
And let us back - upon the oars.
Lord we cast our prayers to thee,
To keep us safe upon thy sea;
To let us row, not be on anchor
And if you don’t then you’re - not a nice God.
(couldn’t think of anything else to rhyme)
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Oct 8, 2009
a touch of post traumatic stress disorder TLMB? The signs go something like:
1) Poetry
2) Wetting the bed
3) Dressing up as a woman
4) Murderous rampage
By Laser.Beam on Oct 8, 2009
Good effort lads
Will keep fingers crossed for you.
Hope all goes well now.
And Grace, why do you want them to get drunk? Their on a boat… thats just dangerous.
Keep going
John
By John Hanafin on Oct 8, 2009
Mick, I had fish’n chips at Bardsley’s with Franz yesterday and we thought of you guys surrounded by so much fish - but no chips!!! Never mind me hearties, you’re almost there - plenty of french fries at Fisherman’s Wharf - and dry land! Ann and are rooting for you . Keep it up, your progress has been so terrific. Keep rolling. Bacon sandwiches await you at the “wrap party” if you ever get to Brighton! Maurice and Ann xx
By Ann and Maurice on Oct 8, 2009
Laser.Beam
Think I’m over my PTSD now:
1) I’ve written poetry for years
2) I haven’t swamped for weeks (OK maybe days)
3) I was in the Royal Navy - work it out
4) I was acquitted
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Oct 8, 2009
Good Morning Chris and Mick
Let’s hope that by the time you read this, you may already be back on the oars, pushing those miles away. My fingers are crossed to wish you god speed for the last lap of your incredible journey. And I think maybe Grace meant to say “swished” in her message…. so keeeeeeeep smiling as always, keeeeeeeep pushing those miles away on the oars and keeeeeeeep safe.
By Sue from Cornwall on Oct 8, 2009
Today has been decreed as National Poetry Day. This year’s theme is ‘Heroes and Heroines’ - now there a coincidence!
It occurred to me that others might like to see the latest offering from our (relatively new) Poet Laureate, reproduced below.
ATLAS
by Carol Ann Duffy
Give him strength, crouched on one knee in the dark
with the Earth on his back,
balancing the seven seas,
the oceans, five, kneeling
in ruthless, empty, endless space
for grace
of whale, dolphin, sea-lion, shark, seal, fish, every kind
which swarms the waters. Hero.
Hard, too,
heavy to hold, the mountains;
burn of his neck and arms taking the strain –
Andes, Himalayas, Kilimanjaro –
give him strength, he heaves them high
to harvest rain from skies for streams
and rivers, he holds the rivers,
holds the Amazon, Ganges, Nile, hero, hero.
Hired by no-one, heard in a myth only, lonely,
he carries a planet’s weight,
islands and continents,
the billions there, his ears the last to hear
their language, music, gunfire, prayer;
give him strength, strong girth, for elephants,
tigers, snow leopards, polar bears, bees, bats,
the last ounce of a humming-bird.
Broad-backed
in infinite, bleak black,
he bears where Earth is, nowhere,
head bowed, a genuflection to the shouldered dead,
the unborn’s hero, he is love’s lift;
sometimes the moon rolled to his feet, a gift.
By Dad Martin on Oct 8, 2009
Maurice and Ann
“rooting” in Australian English has a totally different connotation which I found out when I announced to the entire office I would be at home ‘rooting’ for a colleague. Stunned silence, shocked faces … what could I possibly have said?
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Oct 8, 2009
TLM - it’s a bit thin but perhaps you could with ‘you’re a plonka’ almost fits with anchor.
No it doesn’t really does it. Oh well. Be patient gents, press on when you can.
By Boing Boing on Oct 8, 2009
A bit thin!?!?
TLM take no notice of Boing Boing, he wouldn’t know a good rhyming couplet or iambic pentameter if it bit him on the arse. I say you were cruelly overlooked for the laureateship and you’re miles better than the passing Motion (d’you like what I’ve done there?) that was there before.
Anyway, Chris & Mick, be sure to execute your plan(?) of heading due North with all haste - we’ll have to move the welcome party to Vancouver, but it shouldn’t be too much trouble. Press on chaps, the black buoy is in sight!
By Higgsy on Oct 8, 2009
Don’t make any jokes about the Black Bouy. John Hanafin and I live in Nigeria and we’ll either get sacked or filled in (by the lovely Gracie).
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Oct 8, 2009
Don’t worry TLM, in Australia we wear ‘thongs’ on our feet. It works both ways.
By Margaret on Oct 8, 2009
Dad Martin
i heard the very lady recite this poem this morning on Radio 4 and i was very moved by it. Thank you for putting up the words -
Mick & Chris
both the sea and wind will be kind to you, they have been told !
take care kate
By kate walker on Oct 8, 2009
Once last big push Captain Chris!
Have you seen any mermaids or merman yet?
By Blake on Oct 8, 2009
Well done Dad Martin for blogging that Poem “Atlas” by this year’s Poet Laureate - excellent - and rather appropriate. I wonder whether anyone has written one called “Neptune”… I will do a “google” to see what I can find. Hope Chris and Mick are okay out there - I hope they do not carry on heading north for too long, or they may end up on the coast of canada or Alaska - and that would be very chilly! Keeeeeep smiling lads, keeeeeeep rowing and keeeeeeep safe.
By Sue from Cornwall on Oct 8, 2009
Aloha lads well as long as we dont see you here ,be safe an love to bo.xx
By jenny b on Oct 8, 2009
I’ve just explored “Google” for Neptune which made very interesting reading - actually, he was a somewhat of a “dirty old man” judging by all the stories! Couldn’t find any poems about him, but maybe someone else knows of poetry about the sea or Neptune…? Keeeeeep rowing Chris and Mick.
By Sue from Cornwall on Oct 8, 2009
TLM, just in case there was any confusion, the Black Buoy is a well known landmark on the Tideway (River Thames) at the end of Putney Embankment, that marks about 2 minutes left to go in the Head of the River Race. It’s been said that along with the Great Wall of China, it’s the only thing visible from space but despite this still manages to catch numerous unwary crews as they push for the line. Hopefully Chris & Mick’s navigation skills are up to scratch adthey will give it a wide berth!
By Higgsy on Oct 9, 2009