AnyOne who can read a weather chart for our area of the world will see that this coming weekend shows unprecedented good weather over a really wide area of the Atlantic Ocean. We have been waiting in the Canaries for three weeks for a change in the weather, hoping for a slight change.
This weekend is THAT period, and the change is not slight. It is HUGE!
The trade winds that usually kick in at around 14' 45" North and are 200 miles wide, are spread out over a 3000 mile wide band from the Canaries to their normal southern limits. Sailors here are saying they have NEVER seen them so wide and so strong. Predictions are for 20 - 25 knot following winds and 3 meter seas all the way across. We may not need to deviate south at all to pick up those trades.
Our spirits are from zero to hero in one step! Apparently, this high pressure system is SO strong that the sailing fraternity are placing an over 85% certainty on it remaining there for our entire crossing! That is phenomenal!
Let's hope we don't get up too much speed and start surfing too hard! The only danger will be that of pitchpoling down big seas. (For the uninitiated, this happens when a boat runs head-long down a big wave and goes beyond 90' from the vertical, and it rolls end over end).
Here's hoping!
Thanks to Richard for stepping in to the control of London to Paris to London while I am away "enjoying myself"!
Regards,
Roger G
Tuesday 25 January 2011
Saturday 22 January 2011
Rogers Atlantic Row
Three London rowers are about to embark on a challenge from Gran Canaria to Barbarbados. To beat the record they need to complete the crossing in under 33 days.
If you check out http://www.itv.com/london/rowing-record92308/ and you might see someone you will recognise.
I will try to keep you all updated on Rogers progress while he crosses the Atlantic but I am limited to the information from the www.woodvale-works.com so keep checking it out and hope they cross swiftly and safely.
The London2Paris2London Challenge is, of course, still pushing on in Rogers Absence. We are awaiting the first trial oar for the Gig before we puch on and get the rest made.
We have had a few more people come forward to register interest in the challenge but may I remind you all that your first payment confirms your place in one of our Coded Pilots Gigs. You may attend our Presentation on the 6th March 2011 at the Royal Twickenham Canoe Club but again please get your names on the list of attendees.
If you wish to register your interest, please email Roger as soon as possible. Your email will be picked up by the office. rogergould13@gmail.com
Thames Workboats, (the company suppling the challenge with safety boat and support during the event) have now taken ownership of a 7 metre Rib. The vessel is coded for 11 passengers and will be providing you with that reassurance that you need should anyone find themselves in the water. The vessel was chosen for its ability to carry passengers, reach a speed of 40knots quietly and low emmissions from it's reknown engine.
If you would like to see the vessels Thames Workboats own and supply for the challenge take a look on www.thamesworkboats.com
For now
Richard Bain
L2P2L Safety and Support
07890 886369
richard@thamesworkboats.com
If you check out http://www.itv.com/london/rowing-record92308/ and you might see someone you will recognise.
I will try to keep you all updated on Rogers progress while he crosses the Atlantic but I am limited to the information from the www.woodvale-works.com so keep checking it out and hope they cross swiftly and safely.
The London2Paris2London Challenge is, of course, still pushing on in Rogers Absence. We are awaiting the first trial oar for the Gig before we puch on and get the rest made.
We have had a few more people come forward to register interest in the challenge but may I remind you all that your first payment confirms your place in one of our Coded Pilots Gigs. You may attend our Presentation on the 6th March 2011 at the Royal Twickenham Canoe Club but again please get your names on the list of attendees.
If you wish to register your interest, please email Roger as soon as possible. Your email will be picked up by the office. rogergould13@gmail.com
Thames Workboats, (the company suppling the challenge with safety boat and support during the event) have now taken ownership of a 7 metre Rib. The vessel is coded for 11 passengers and will be providing you with that reassurance that you need should anyone find themselves in the water. The vessel was chosen for its ability to carry passengers, reach a speed of 40knots quietly and low emmissions from it's reknown engine.
If you would like to see the vessels Thames Workboats own and supply for the challenge take a look on www.thamesworkboats.com
For now
Richard Bain
L2P2L Safety and Support
07890 886369
richard@thamesworkboats.com
Wednesday 12 January 2011
We're here - and still waiting to go!
We arrived in time last week and have been held up with paperwork and poor weather. There is another large crew that set off the other day without providing any paperwork or getting permission from the authorities out here. This has created a real poor attitude toward all Ocean Rowers by the local government officials. Although we have provided more paperwork and insurance than is asked for, we have been told that we MUST. Have a support boat for our crossing. Now whe do you find one of those at this late hour. Never before has an independent rowing boat been asked for this level of cover. However, if we leave from Gran Canaria we need no such documentation or support boat! How crazy is that?
Our start is now set for this coming weekend instead of today - and it will be from Gran Canaria instead of La Gomera. That means packing up all of our belongings and our boat / equipment and transporting it all over to that island. No mean feat. So when some of the future London to Paris to London Challengers tell me they are being messed around with arrangements, I'll have a little chuckle to myself and think. 'You don't know what being messed about is yet'! I will understand however the frustration felt when you pay for something that doesn't always the precise way you expected it to. I am still making adjustments in my every day life that allow for things happening in a different way than I expect. It helps to keep a sense of humour.
We have some members of our crew that are to date 'fine boat rowers'. It showed tonight when we had our first row together as a crew at sea - in the dark. One particular member was SO STRESSED by others inability to keep time in rough conditions that they shouted instructions in such a vicious way that I laughted out loud! That person won't be very annoying after 30 days at sea... I feel a swift punch in the kidneys coming on...I am sure they will mellow once the reality of being at sea sets in. Things are not as simple out there as keeping time, and not catching a crab, or correct recovery done at a set time. Good times ahead.
Our project progresses nicely too for the London to Paris to London row in 2012. We now have our recce crew ready for their row in June 2011. The coding for e Cornish gigs is going well too and we hope the MCA will get back to us really soon wi their observations on Richard's hard work.
Wish us luck - and follow us on www.woodvale-works.com There is a tracker on our boat that will give out our positions as we move.
Our start is now set for this coming weekend instead of today - and it will be from Gran Canaria instead of La Gomera. That means packing up all of our belongings and our boat / equipment and transporting it all over to that island. No mean feat. So when some of the future London to Paris to London Challengers tell me they are being messed around with arrangements, I'll have a little chuckle to myself and think. 'You don't know what being messed about is yet'! I will understand however the frustration felt when you pay for something that doesn't always the precise way you expected it to. I am still making adjustments in my every day life that allow for things happening in a different way than I expect. It helps to keep a sense of humour.
We have some members of our crew that are to date 'fine boat rowers'. It showed tonight when we had our first row together as a crew at sea - in the dark. One particular member was SO STRESSED by others inability to keep time in rough conditions that they shouted instructions in such a vicious way that I laughted out loud! That person won't be very annoying after 30 days at sea... I feel a swift punch in the kidneys coming on...I am sure they will mellow once the reality of being at sea sets in. Things are not as simple out there as keeping time, and not catching a crab, or correct recovery done at a set time. Good times ahead.
Our project progresses nicely too for the London to Paris to London row in 2012. We now have our recce crew ready for their row in June 2011. The coding for e Cornish gigs is going well too and we hope the MCA will get back to us really soon wi their observations on Richard's hard work.
Wish us luck - and follow us on www.woodvale-works.com There is a tracker on our boat that will give out our positions as we move.
Saturday 1 January 2011
Happy New Year and so long for a while!
As the title suggests, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year and to sign off for a while as I set off for La Gomera to go for a paddle on the mighty Atlantic Ocean...
I set out from Gatwick on Monday morning at VERY early o'clock and then, after a week or so of familiarisation on the boat and weather permitting, we'll set ofF on January 12th for Barbados.
Richard Bain will take over the technical side of enquiries and my wife Christina, will handle all other enquiries from the office until I get back. Email for Richard is richard@thamesworkboats.com Just send your emails to me as usual at rogergould@btconnect.com
You will get an out of office reply, but your emails will be read and any actions needed will be taken straight away.
Wish me luck. Be back soon!
Roger G
I set out from Gatwick on Monday morning at VERY early o'clock and then, after a week or so of familiarisation on the boat and weather permitting, we'll set ofF on January 12th for Barbados.
Richard Bain will take over the technical side of enquiries and my wife Christina, will handle all other enquiries from the office until I get back. Email for Richard is richard@thamesworkboats.com Just send your emails to me as usual at rogergould@btconnect.com
You will get an out of office reply, but your emails will be read and any actions needed will be taken straight away.
Wish me luck. Be back soon!
Roger G
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