Day 170 - Nightime Operations
October 25, 2009 – 8:30 amWhy is it that when you need a boat to arrive in daylight they always turn up at night? Last night another merchant vessel came within a mile of Bo just before midnight. Yet another ideal opportunity for us to take food onboard missed thanks to the sun not being in the right place at the right time. We do take a lot of comfort though that as we approach San Francisco the number of ships that we are seeing is rapidly increasing so it is only a matter of time before we see one in daylight and in fairly calm seas.
Yesterday we also saw our first 2 pieces of large rubbish. One telegraph pole that was about 20ft long and another shorter log that was maybe 6ft long. They both missed us by quite a margin but it certainly makes us happy to know that Bo’s carbon and kevlar construction is tougher than other boats out there. Of course having said that it certainly gave us a bit of a shock.
We’d been trying to punch into the wind for most of last night but at 5am I had to admit defeat. We just weren’t making any reasonable progress and we were both getting very tired for basically no progress forwards. At least we had kept going as long as we could do and made it to under 400nm to go. We both crashed out in the cabin and woke up at 9am for a very late breakfast which was brilliant because it meant that lunch was relatively much earlier than normal. (not that most of what we think and talk about is food).
We’re now just outside the 130 degrees west barrier with San Francisco at 122 1/2 degrees we are so very close. I can almost taste the steak and eggs from here.
40°41′59”N 129°54′49”W
Chris & Mick travelled 11.1 miles East-South-East (heading 108.2°) on day 170
They ended 444.6 miles from San Francisco (11.0 miles closer than yesterday)
They covered miles 4626 to 4637 of the trip
Their average pace so far has been 27.3 miles/day towards San Francisco
They have 16.3 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-South-East (heading 114.2°)
See where the boat is
Click on Mick and Chris to see where the boat is
11 Responses to “Day 170 - Nightime Operations”
Greetings from Ampthill
everyone is talking about you both,and were all very proud of you, i was out last night with ray, scouse, etc everyone sends there best, and we are willing you on with everything we have, i have called dominos pizza they said if you get a bit closer they will deliver so please please keep going, you are an insperation to us all, look forward to beer with you mick, keep going boys proud of you. Andy Briars
By Andy Briars on Oct 25, 2009
Welldone guys,not to worry;soon,very soon you will be sorted.We are so very proud of you Mick.Lotta warm hugs and kisses from me,2 mums and the Cowbridge
By Grace Dawson on Oct 25, 2009
Your mention of food made me think of something completely different for today’s contribution.
The wisdom of life can be found in many unlikely places, such as tea towels for instance. ‘Twas on one of those I found the following pearls of wisdom, which I thought might be of some reassurance, primarily to the fairer sex. Don’t worry chaps, a choccie bar is just one of the many joys awaiting you in SF!
Thoughts from a chocoholic.
Scientists have come up with a theory that chocolate slows down the ageing process. It may not be true but dare we take the chance. Here are ten theories which prove eating chocolate is good for us.
1. A balanced diet consists of items from five major food groups: dairy, grains, meats, fruit/vegetables and chocolate.
2. Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger.
3. A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place.
4. Chocolate-covered raisins, cherries, orange slices and strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as much as you want.
5. Diet tip - Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It’ll take the edge off your appetite and you’ll eat less.
6. Chocolate is always there for you, when you don’t have a shoulder to cry on.
7. If you can’t eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer; but then if you can’t eat all your chocolate, what’s wrong with you?
8. Eating equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate is a perfectly-balanced diet.
9. Chocolate is cheaper than therapy and you don’t need an appointment.
10. Put ‘Eat chocolate’ at the top of your list of things to do each day. That way, you’ll get at least one thing done.
Finally, chocolate doesn’t make the world go round, but it makes the ride worthwhile.
There you are ladies - probably the same advice you’d get from a Sunday supplement, but without the cost! As a novel alternative, don’t forget there’s a ‘DONATE’ button at the top of this page………………………!
By Dad Martin on Oct 25, 2009
Ah - words of choco-wisdom from Dad Martin for us ladies. But what about the chaps?? Maybe a glass of Guinness might give similar calming pleasure for the chaps? Anyhow, we shouldn’t really be talking about food on here at the moment - or not until Chris and Mick have met a friendly, charitable boat who gives them some spare food…..
Hope Chris and Mick are okay out there - keeeeeeeep smiling, keeeeeep THINKING ABOUT THE GOLDEN GATE, keeeeep rowing and keeeeeeeep safe.
By Sue from Cornwall on Oct 25, 2009
Nearly there… your progress watched with keen interest and lots of prayers for safe arrival from friends in Devon. Wish we could send some beans by email… but you only get love instead. God bless.
By Glyn & Alan on Oct 25, 2009
I actually went out in a single today for the 1st time in about 1&1/2years.. pulse rate was through the roof with abject terror, only when I’d finished the outing did blood return to my fingertips beyond the white knuckles, and my fingers now show something of a blister Braille message. Stupid rotten idea that was !!.. I knew I liked sitting in the middle of a nice stable 8 for some reason
Keep paddling chaps.. just think of all the tea bags you can ever lay your grubby hands on, will be waiting for you at that big ol’ bridge. Is anyone taking Jaffa cakes & malt loaf?
By Cath on Oct 25, 2009
Wishing you good wind, in the right direction and a nice little boat with chocolate, tea bags, and yummy things on board to appear first thing tomorrow morning in calm seas….
Not long to go guys. It is an amazing adventure you are both on…. enjoy!!!!
By Dizzie Blonde on Oct 25, 2009
Mick, Chris - fantastic reading your blogs shippers! Not far now! Fair winds and good currents and tides… thinking of you both fellas.
Charlie
By Charlie Martell on Oct 25, 2009
Chris would it help if I tell you I’ve just had a lovely roast dinner, chicken, home grown swede, carrots, and leeks with potatos and gravy.
No? Oh. Sorry about that then.
And I can empathize about the driftwood problems. I had to start the fours head one year at about number 350, we encountered a lot of driftwood too.
By Biff on Oct 25, 2009
That boat of yours seems to have figured out the shortest distance to a tea bag - it’s been dragging you towards the port of Eureka for days and days! Happily land will be in sight before long, maybe a bit further south.
By Ned on Oct 26, 2009
Eureka California is a strange place - I had breakfast there one morning last summer. The buildings look very colonial. The breakfast, however, was fantastic. It really sticks out in my mind because they did an excellent eggs and hash browns, but those really good hash browns you can only get in the US where they take a cheese grater to a potato. You could do a lot worse - North Bend, for example, both Tori and I had ‘recuring issues’ as a result of the sea-food.
Dad Martin – thanks for the T-Shirts and letter. I’ve replied of course but I was in Inverness this weekend so have posted it from there. It’ll be a competition between our militant postal service and the unkind winds the boys are facing.
By George.Simpson on Oct 26, 2009