Day 163 - Surfing With The Lights Off
October 18, 2009 – 8:30 amThe lovely blow that we had been waiting for turned up yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately also as predicted it startted to blow from the south before it came round to the west so we sat on the sea anchor for about 4 hours and waited for it to shift. When it did though boy oh boy did we shift!
There’s something rather special about surfing rather sizeable waves by nothing more than the light from the stars. We took a great big chunk out of the miles to go in a single night.
There’s also something rather special about finishing a shift on the oars and getting to sleep knowing that you’ve just ticked off 6 or 7 miles towards San Francisco. The problem quickly occurs though when you start to extrapolate from one night all the way to San Francisco. By these calculations we should arrive in just under a weeks time.
It does look now (at least by a glance at the routing chart) that the weather should become more reliable from here on in. We’ve got another large blow (this time from the SSW) tonight and then the westerly winds return by morning. Here’s hoping that we can start ticking off these degrees at the same rate as days on the calendar. However you look at it there really isn’t much time left.
The tracker is still not working, but again based on some numbers Chris sent me:
41°5′0”N 133°25′0”W
Chris & Mick travelled 42.9 miles East (heading 97.7°) on day 163
They ended 625.1 miles from San Francisco (42.3 miles closer than yesterday)
They covered miles 4414 to 4457 of the trip
Their average pace so far has been 27.3 miles/day towards San Francisco
They have 22.9 days remaining at this rate, so would arrive in San Francisco on 8 Nov 2009
Their target heading for the shortest route to San Francisco is East-South-East (heading 107.6°)
See where the boat is
Sponsor Thanks
Thank you Great Auntie Anne Ludlow! Anne, Chris’ Aunt, sponsored mile 4444 which the boys covered last night.
Would you like to sponsor a mile?
Click on Mick and Chris to see where the boat is
25 Responses to “Day 163 - Surfing With The Lights Off”
Goodmorning guys and well done.Glad things are looking up again and we are moving in a positive direction again;all thanks to God.
Keep safe and keep rowing we are almost there now and my thots and prayers are always with you,kisses
By Grace Dawson on Oct 18, 2009
FORTY TWO miles - legendary performance. You should have played your joker that day!!
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Oct 18, 2009
Absolutely great to read that at last the wind is with you both and that you are surfing along as well as putting in a few strokes on the oars!!!!!!!!! (only joking, lads!)
Hope the good winds and weather keep going for a little longer than a day or two.
You might like to know that Rich in Brazil had to suffer torrential rain yesterday for the qualifying races. Never mind, Rich; it makes the race today all the more interesting for us spectators.
Keep tied on tight boys and keep a good look out for those seagulls!
By Mum Martin on Oct 18, 2009
“The lovely blow that we had been waiting for turned up yesterday afternoon.”
Are you really going to let that one slip past you TLMB?
Fantastic mileage gents. Only a week to go? Blimey. Good work sirs.
By George.Simpson on Oct 18, 2009
Hi Chris and Mick
I totally agree with everything Mum Martin has said this morning! So maybe you are setting yet another record - for 2 SURFERS on a small boat crossing the North Pacific - excellent! Can’t believe you are getting so close to your goal - I will really miss following your daily diaries after it’s all over. Do take extra care now you are nearing GGB - you sound so well organised about anticipating the good winds and the bad ones. Keeeeeeeeep smiling, keeeeeeeep rowing when you can and please keeeeeeep safe.
By Sue from Cornwall on Oct 18, 2009
Nothing like that bust a groove big wave surfing. Keep popping like the little rap stars that you are. But don’t set you self up for a fall with too much extrapolation now Mann Quinn!
By Margaret on Oct 18, 2009
Oooh it does sound as if things are really hotting up now for the final BIG pull on the oars. Surfing sounds fun (if you like that sort of thing) so I hope you get a few more of those waves. I presume they help to conserve your personal energies.
I reckon Fogel and Cracknell (if I can mention their names) would not have coped with the journey that you have gone through, both physically and mentally. I know they gave you an oar in the Atlantic challenge but…
How’s the food supply? Much Bolognasty and many coconut bars left?
I have been so impressed with your calmness(or so it seems to me)and vast knowledge you have of the sea and weather.
Stay focussed, stay safe, stay cheerful and above all keep rowing hard when you can.
What will I do with the extra half hour in my day when the blog stops.
GGB here you come.xx
By great auntie anne (ludlow) on Oct 18, 2009
Hi Chris and Mick
Keep going you guys are doing amazing you have had so many challenges and overcome them so well. Hopefully just a few more days till SF… keep going!!!! Tim
By Tim Allardyce on Oct 18, 2009
Watcha lads the wind gods are doing there job now let them bring you both on home ,its getting really exciting now be safe an love to bo.xx sorry got stuck with no computor yesterday.
By jenny b on Oct 18, 2009
So I assume Mrs. Trellis you have deemed my move yesterday completly legal, as I of course knew you would.
Chaps was the “lovely blow” anything to do with the two gales that Chris reported on day 160?
By Biff on Oct 18, 2009
TO CONFIRM
YESTERDAY’S MOVE WAS NOT APPROVED
Your move Mr Biff.
By MRS TRELLIS on Oct 18, 2009
Fantastic that you finally have the ‘right sort of wind’ ‘blowing’ you along…
And boys - what is happening with that bit or rope for auction? Those charities need a bit of a push in the closing days….
Stay safe and savour the last few moments…
By Dizzie Blonde on Oct 18, 2009
excellent chaps, the count down for the last few days is awesome! Keep it going all the way in.
Justin
By Footballing rower from Beer on Oct 18, 2009
Oooooh Mrs Trellis, have a heart for poor Biff! I assume therefore that my move was also NOT APPROVED either !! Ah well, at least I was trying to put Cornwall on the map. My memories of Temple Mead are not good - train delays caused me to have to cancel my hotel booking in Truro on one occasion a few years ago!
Hope our rowing heroes are okay out there - getting ever closer to GGB…
By Sue from Cornwall on Oct 18, 2009
Miss Sue from Cornwall - Your move was approved by the committee on the following basis 1) you are from Cornwall - centre of the universe (and home of the pastie & clotted cream (both of which the rowing due will enjoy when they next visit you in your new home), 2) Your move of Temple Meads was designed by the prolific British engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and everthing he designed is approved, 3) you are a loyal blogger of Chris and Mick… unlike Mr Biff who takes off galivanting down to your neck of the woods without his wifi
YOUR MOVE WAS APPROVED!
By MRS TRELLIS on Oct 18, 2009
Ooooooh Mrs Trellis - I am surprised and rather pleased that my move has been APPROVED!! And what you say about Cornwall is absolutely spot on, of course!! But I still can’t help feeling a bit guilty about poor Biff… after all, he was just trying to be a bit “different” with his choice of move! Ah well, I hope Biff has enjoyed some clotted cream and Cornish Pasties this weekend to make up for his disappointment.
By Sue from Cornwall on Oct 18, 2009
I think that “being from Cornwall” is one of the mainstays of MC. I am put in my place.
So…. Brompton Road
By Biff on Oct 18, 2009
Great to hear you are moving in the right direction. I have thought of an excellent way to get slowly back into land mode, come along on our narrowboat Starcross for a week or so…there is a slightly wobbly on the water feeling, you could try to row if you really had withdrawal symptoms, but there is fire, food, comfy bed and canalside pubs… and there are always lots of little mechanical and electrical jobs that need doing to keep the brain active..we’ll book you in. Keep rowing for now and take care.
By anthill on Oct 18, 2009
I think Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed the bridge across the river Tamar linking Plymouth (home of 42 Commando, Royal Marines) to Cornwall (home of some of you protagonists) - correct?
On the sporting front, congrats to Jensen Button who is world F1 champion, he rang me from the podium and said his excitement was overshadowed by the impending arrival of two other GB sporting legends in SF.
This is the first time in 40 years a GB F1 champ has handed over to a GB F1 champ. A quality day.
GS/LB: To your abstract disappointment, yes I am going to let “The lovely blow that we had been waiting for turned up yesterday afternoon” slip by, my daughter saw me hooting with laughter and promptly handcuffed me away from said keyboard. The possibilities were endless.
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Oct 18, 2009
Спасибо. Прочитал с интересом. Блог в избранное занес
By Violanka on Oct 18, 2009
Message above from Violanka reads:-
Thank you. I read with interest. Blog has added to Favorites
By Dizzie Blonde on Oct 18, 2009
Все наши европейские читателей, она упрощает для нас для чтения и понимания Вашего вклада, если вы могли бы перевести пожалуйста если для нас слишком? Благодарим вас так много вы талантливы более с ваши навыки linquistic чем нам Бритс!
By Dizzie Blonde on Oct 18, 2009
Who’s a clever person then, Dizzie Blonde! Or have all those blog messages written in a different language been from you all along? TLM: You are indeed correct about the splendid bridge over the River Tamar - it was indeed constructed by Mr Brunel. My new home will be only about 25 minutes drive awway, and it is a real treat to travel across that bridge on the train - you should do the trip sometime. I too am delighted about Jenson’s triumph today.
Hope Chris and Mick are okay on Bo and that the winds have been blowing them in the right direction. Keep safe you lads.
By Sue from Cornwall on Oct 18, 2009
SfC
Spent a while as a resident of ‘Guzz’ and wonderful memories of trips across said bridge, and also of weekends in Polperro; Tintagel; Mevagissey; Fowey (first run ashore as a sailor); and many other wonderful little Cornish villages. As for the times on Lusty Glaze Beach in Newquay, with Tracy the barmaid from the Prince Regent in Union St, Plymouth - well the less said about that, the better (Mick will understand).
By Typical Lightweight Matelot on Oct 19, 2009
Ooh great work. I was out surfing (ok, flailing about in the water with a surfboard in tow) off the coast just south of San Francisco this weekend. I’ll have to start looking out for you on the horizon!
By Clathrin on Oct 19, 2009