Day 189 - Getting Into The Right Place At The Right Time

November 13, 2009 – 6:19 am

Yesterday it became clear that unless we did something quite exceptional we ran the risk of missing San Francisco altogether, and being pushed south by the wind and current towards Mexico. We doubled up and rowed like crazed men.  Gradually the heading came round and our progress east improved as we made our way out of the current.

Sometime in  the late hours of the evening we dropped down to single rowers, and by 5am we were within a few miles of a headland (Point Reyes). What an extatic feeling that was as we could see the shape of the land, even only with the sliver of a moon we’d been given as lighting.

We still had a fair way to go though, with strong winds blowing us past the point and 3 shipping lanes to our south we couldn’t make a mistake (or if we did it would mean calling out the fishing vessels we’d lined up for a tow just in case).

Mick took to the role of navigation officer and skipper whilst I slipped into the rowing position and hauled ass.  As the ocean fog came up to meet us the waves became sharper and broke much more often, soaking both of us, but as the sun came up we started to make good progress past the headland and the winds started to die off slightly.  We’ve got some miles still to cover, and hopefully we’ll be able to moor up tonight to be able to adjust our ETA through the bridge.

There’s a 3 knot tidal flow around the bridge so we need to get the timing right (high water is 9am San Fran time, 5pm UK time).  What a day, night, and day.  This is not one that either of us is going to forget any time soon, and we simply can’t wait for tomorrow.  It’s going to be very special.

37°52′17”N 122°43′16”W
Chris & Mick travelled 46.5 miles East-South-East (heading 123.4°) on day 189
They ended 13.8 miles from San Francisco (46.0 miles closer than yesterday)
They covered miles 5022 to 5068 of the trip
Their average pace so far has been 26.8 miles/day towards San Francisco
Bojangles ETA in San Francisco is 8am local time (4pm UK time)
Their target heading for the shortest route to San Francisco is East-South-East (heading 105.5°)
See where the boat is
Welcome the crew to San Francisco

Sponsor Thanks

With only a few miles to go thank you to all those who sponsored miles for today.

• 4414 The Poynton Family Lincolnshire
• 4920-4024 Philip, Julia, Ben and Charlotte Prew
• 4930-4032 Jenny Budgett
• 4976 Sally Adamson Taylor
• 4977 L Wells
• 5023-5030 The MINGERS (Molesey Intependent veteraN Group for Exercise and Recreation)
• 5031-5032 Flexicovers Ltd.
• 5033 Steve Matley
• 5034 Avelline Deighton
• 5035-5039 David Dales, who had this message:
  Fantastic Job Lads!
• 5040-5041 Tanya Cavanagh
• 5042 Sue and Malc (Runnymede Runners)
• 5043-5044 Trevor Hudson, who had this message:
  Keep plugging away! Listenning on Radio Lincolnshire to see where you are. Might share half a shandy when you’re back. All the best to you, Mum and Steve, and also to Chris.
• 5045-5048 Florian Kuhn
• 5049, 5052-5054 Josh & Mary Pert
• 5050 Great Auntie Anne (Ludlow)
• 5051 John Barnard
• 5055-5059 Bill and Luke Wolbach of Lantern Films - row hard, no excuses
• 5060-5061 Steve Flemming
• 5062 Claire Sewter
• 5063 Richard Beckley Planned Packaging Films
• 5064-5065 Rita & Estevao Pape who said:
  Chris, see you at Mitre for a beer
• 5066-5070 Kate Walker, woofs x 2 and Disco Dancing

The The Big Sponsored Mile Raffle is now closed, and you can find out if you won here.

The End Of Voyage Sale is still on though, closing at lunch time UK today. Bidding has been tremendously fierce for the final mile of the race especially - up to £210 when I last looked. To remind you what you can bid for:

	One of the crew’s routing charts.
	A phone call from the crew (either on the sea anchor, or when they reach the USA)
	The trip line (if you don’t understand, check out their post on day 94, and then the comments on day 94, day 95, day 96 and day 97!).
	The final mile of the voyage (mile 5082, as they pass under the Golden Gate Bridge).