You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.
The issue of sponsorship is by all accounts the most challenging part of these expeditions. We have been working on our options and will publish these here in a couple of days.
We look forward to sending these out and welcome any feedback that any of our readers/followers might like to make. Watch this space.
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Steering a course
Way ahead
As part of our discussions with ICE we are particularly intrigued by the steering mechanism on the trikes. Nothing complex about it or particularly unusual from the trike point of view, but potentially the solution to a problem for us.
Sat or laid in the seat while we pedal, we need to be able to have manual over-ride of the auto pilot and something to hold onto to stabilise ourselves as the boat rolls in the swell.
ICE steering has the potential for attaching some braided steel wires direct to the rudder and given that our hands are otherwise not employed to power the boat, we have a much simpler steering option than a row boat. The upright handles allow for bracing in an unsettled sea. Check out their website for photos of the bikes to see what we're getting at.
As part of our discussions with ICE we are particularly intrigued by the steering mechanism on the trikes. Nothing complex about it or particularly unusual from the trike point of view, but potentially the solution to a problem for us.
Sat or laid in the seat while we pedal, we need to be able to have manual over-ride of the auto pilot and something to hold onto to stabilise ourselves as the boat rolls in the swell.
ICE steering has the potential for attaching some braided steel wires direct to the rudder and given that our hands are otherwise not employed to power the boat, we have a much simpler steering option than a row boat. The upright handles allow for bracing in an unsettled sea. Check out their website for photos of the bikes to see what we're getting at.
ICE Trikes
Recumbent technology in whose comfort we trust.
Thursday afternoon, having made an early start in Dorset, we make Falmouth by 3pm and are welcomed by Chris and his team at ICE.
A series of industrial units where production of 1200 of the most exquisite recumbent cycling machines are produced each year for sale across the globe is also their head office. These are bikes of elegance and feline grace and examples are brought out in turn for us to try out around the car park. They are at the same time pieces of craftsmanship and joy. You cannot pilot one without a Cheshire-cat like grin.
Steve and I have worked on options for potential sponsors and are aware in this case that the recumbent seating arrangement that we have come to survey will take centre stage in our boat. Instrumental to our success because of the critical importance of comfort and its suitability to our mode of propulsion, we see that this will also enhance the marketing potential through this long and enduring test of it's capabilities.
Having tried variations on a theme designed for speed, adventure, touring and just plain fun, we retire to the office to demonstrate our embryonic website and small presentation.
Thursday afternoon, having made an early start in Dorset, we make Falmouth by 3pm and are welcomed by Chris and his team at ICE.
A series of industrial units where production of 1200 of the most exquisite recumbent cycling machines are produced each year for sale across the globe is also their head office. These are bikes of elegance and feline grace and examples are brought out in turn for us to try out around the car park. They are at the same time pieces of craftsmanship and joy. You cannot pilot one without a Cheshire-cat like grin.
Steve and I have worked on options for potential sponsors and are aware in this case that the recumbent seating arrangement that we have come to survey will take centre stage in our boat. Instrumental to our success because of the critical importance of comfort and its suitability to our mode of propulsion, we see that this will also enhance the marketing potential through this long and enduring test of it's capabilities.
Having tried variations on a theme designed for speed, adventure, touring and just plain fun, we retire to the office to demonstrate our embryonic website and small presentation.
Friday, 1 November 2013
In the boat yard
Propellers and Boats
After our office meeting we took a tour of the workshops and yard. The propeller that had been built for the earlier boat were surprisingly large in diameter, spanning probably 12 inches and encouraged us that our 80-85 rpm pedal cadence might yet produce some reasonable thrust. It is likely that we will take a variety of propeller sizes and will make a point of trialling these over the course of the next 12 months.
In the yard itself we were shown a number of ARR (Atlantic Rowing Race) design boats that lie dormant, awaiting their next adventure. One of these we enquire after and await a response from the owner.
Briefly we also stopped and contemplated Peter Bird's boat, recovered by a Japanese Trawler after Peter sent out a distress signal on the 3rd June 1996 trying to cross the Pacific W-E.
After our office meeting we took a tour of the workshops and yard. The propeller that had been built for the earlier boat were surprisingly large in diameter, spanning probably 12 inches and encouraged us that our 80-85 rpm pedal cadence might yet produce some reasonable thrust. It is likely that we will take a variety of propeller sizes and will make a point of trialling these over the course of the next 12 months.
In the yard itself we were shown a number of ARR (Atlantic Rowing Race) design boats that lie dormant, awaiting their next adventure. One of these we enquire after and await a response from the owner.
Briefly we also stopped and contemplated Peter Bird's boat, recovered by a Japanese Trawler after Peter sent out a distress signal on the 3rd June 1996 trying to cross the Pacific W-E.
Rossiter Ocean Rowing Boats
Drive shafts and propellers
We arrived at Rossiter Quay at 08:45. Awestruck by the enormous looking multi-crew rowing boat that sat in on the quayside. Looking not unlike a maxi yacht without a mast, this is a serious piece of kit. It would be amazing to see these guys off in La Gomera in a months time or so.
Charlie Rossiter, the proprieter of the company kindly gives us a great deal of his time and we sit in his office discussing propulsion systems, boat steerage, buying options and likely costs. We cover time-frame of rebuilds/refurbishments and are pleasantly surprised by how quickly the yard could turn a boat around if needed. More importantly though we are impressed by their flexibility, having many crews coming down to the yard at the weekend to hijack their boat for a show, leaving the yard bereft for a few days until its return. To them, this is part of working with the individual teams and is very impressive.
We had a good look at the pedal drive mechanism previously developed for Justin Coleman's boat, 'Atlantic Song' and determine at least that the pedal mechanism would likely need to be level and the prop offset rather than the other way around, to avoid knee, ankle and hip injuries.
The original pedal drive comes from bikes such as these that are more often used in the far east as I understand. As you can see from the picture there is a slight offset from the crank to the drive at the rear and this explains why when you straighten up the bottom end and stick a propeller on it, you end up with a slight offset at the pedal end. Not ideal.
Conversely a slight offset of the propeller is unlikely to make a huge difference. (We hope).
We arrived at Rossiter Quay at 08:45. Awestruck by the enormous looking multi-crew rowing boat that sat in on the quayside. Looking not unlike a maxi yacht without a mast, this is a serious piece of kit. It would be amazing to see these guys off in La Gomera in a months time or so.
Charlie Rossiter, the proprieter of the company kindly gives us a great deal of his time and we sit in his office discussing propulsion systems, boat steerage, buying options and likely costs. We cover time-frame of rebuilds/refurbishments and are pleasantly surprised by how quickly the yard could turn a boat around if needed. More importantly though we are impressed by their flexibility, having many crews coming down to the yard at the weekend to hijack their boat for a show, leaving the yard bereft for a few days until its return. To them, this is part of working with the individual teams and is very impressive.
We had a good look at the pedal drive mechanism previously developed for Justin Coleman's boat, 'Atlantic Song' and determine at least that the pedal mechanism would likely need to be level and the prop offset rather than the other way around, to avoid knee, ankle and hip injuries.
The original pedal drive comes from bikes such as these that are more often used in the far east as I understand. As you can see from the picture there is a slight offset from the crank to the drive at the rear and this explains why when you straighten up the bottom end and stick a propeller on it, you end up with a slight offset at the pedal end. Not ideal.
Conversely a slight offset of the propeller is unlikely to make a huge difference. (We hope).
Snoring
Leaving late afternoon by train for Cambridge where I'm meeting up with Steve at the end of his day for a journey down to Christchurch in Dorset where we are due to have a meeting with Charlie Rossiter, owner of Rossiter ocean Rowing Boats.
We have already been in e-mail conversation with him over the last month or so discussing Justin's previous conversion of an ARR boat to pedal power and we hope to take this same design to completion.
Road closures and heavy traffic delay our arrival at Oakdene Caravan and Camping Park on the edge of the New Forest, where we eventually pitch up at 22:30 after a hasty meal on route.
Since Steve has recently bought a 'new' estate car, we opt for the sleeping in the boot option. I quickly disciver that I will be blessed by the need to pedal whilst Steve sleeps. I had been warned by his partner, Michelle, but snore doesn't even touch it. At 03:00 I decamp from the dry warmth of the car to my bivvi-bag and the grass outside and spend the remainder of the night smelling the grass in silence. Haaaa Zzzzzz
We have already been in e-mail conversation with him over the last month or so discussing Justin's previous conversion of an ARR boat to pedal power and we hope to take this same design to completion.
Road closures and heavy traffic delay our arrival at Oakdene Caravan and Camping Park on the edge of the New Forest, where we eventually pitch up at 22:30 after a hasty meal on route.
Since Steve has recently bought a 'new' estate car, we opt for the sleeping in the boot option. I quickly disciver that I will be blessed by the need to pedal whilst Steve sleeps. I had been warned by his partner, Michelle, but snore doesn't even touch it. At 03:00 I decamp from the dry warmth of the car to my bivvi-bag and the grass outside and spend the remainder of the night smelling the grass in silence. Haaaa Zzzzzz
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Contacts
We'll remind you all of this from time to time, since we'd be happy for you to share it, but here are a few places you can contact us from.
Website. www.atlanticrevolutions.com
Facebook Atlantic Revolutions
Twitter @AtlanticRevs
e-mail atlanticrevolutions@gmail.com
Website. www.atlanticrevolutions.com
Facebook Atlantic Revolutions
Twitter @AtlanticRevs
e-mail atlanticrevolutions@gmail.com
Web design and meetings
We have not been inactive since I last wrote.
Met last week to thrash out the website that is live but not finished at www.atlanticrevolutions.com. Edd from purplemedia365 has created the skeleton and Steve has added pictures and some more flesh.
Our launch date officially or at least according to our masterplan is the 15th November.
Tomorrow Steve and I head to Christchurch to meet with Charlie Rossiter at Rossiter Rowing Boats on the south coast and then immediatley after drive to Falmouth to meet up with the sponsors of our seating. ICE Trikes. A busy day ahead but one that we are very excited about.
As soon as the website is completed we will hit the fund-raising trail in earnest.
Met last week to thrash out the website that is live but not finished at www.atlanticrevolutions.com. Edd from purplemedia365 has created the skeleton and Steve has added pictures and some more flesh.
Our launch date officially or at least according to our masterplan is the 15th November.
Tomorrow Steve and I head to Christchurch to meet with Charlie Rossiter at Rossiter Rowing Boats on the south coast and then immediatley after drive to Falmouth to meet up with the sponsors of our seating. ICE Trikes. A busy day ahead but one that we are very excited about.
As soon as the website is completed we will hit the fund-raising trail in earnest.
Friday, 11 October 2013
Watch this space
Pre-launch
I shall have to get Steve feeding into this so that he can relay first-hand what he has been looking into. I know that he has been debating the start point for our crossing with Justin. Morocco or The Canaries?? Strong currents down the western seaboard of Africa by all accounts that could be difficult under any circumstances to break free from, but under pedal power even harder.
I'm guessing that pirateers are also much more prevelant off the African coast adding another danger factor that I'm not that keen to add on.
I've been putting together a costing of ALL the constituent pieces of equipment and ancilliary costs and as an aside to that debating with myself about charity sponsorship and who or how to incorporate this aspect of the challenge. It's otherwise been busy elsewhere with our website being built and facebook page and twitter accounts opened. Watch this space.
I shall have to get Steve feeding into this so that he can relay first-hand what he has been looking into. I know that he has been debating the start point for our crossing with Justin. Morocco or The Canaries?? Strong currents down the western seaboard of Africa by all accounts that could be difficult under any circumstances to break free from, but under pedal power even harder.
I'm guessing that pirateers are also much more prevelant off the African coast adding another danger factor that I'm not that keen to add on.
I've been putting together a costing of ALL the constituent pieces of equipment and ancilliary costs and as an aside to that debating with myself about charity sponsorship and who or how to incorporate this aspect of the challenge. It's otherwise been busy elsewhere with our website being built and facebook page and twitter accounts opened. Watch this space.
Friday, 4 October 2013
Thruster
Ocean rower No. 2
Justin Coleman, also known by the rowing fraternity as ‘Thruster’, I’m guessing because of his connection with a previous attempt to pedal the Atlantic, see this entry http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Justins-3000-mile-pedalo-adventure-to-conquer-Atlantic-12092012.htm was in Grantchester as part of what he described as his life as a semi-professional stand-up comic.
After yesterday’s meeting with ’Tiny’ Little, we are collecting ocean rowing scalps at a great rate. We are incredibly grateful to Justin for his time and advice.
Key advice in no particular order: get a boat early. People will take you seriously when you have a boat. It will also allow you to conduct trials one spring/summer before working on the boat the following winter in time for further sea trails the following year prior to launch day.
Write a pre-nup! You need to decide what happens if one of you pulls out with regards to division of money etc.
A charity association is as important part of the PR as is the company sponsorship.
Test the boat. Work out your steering options. In a rowing boat the oars are as important in changing course in a hurry to take a wave stern on as they are for providing power. If you’re pedalling how will we address this?
Finally I also threw out a fast ball and asked him whether or not he would be interested in being the third man, in the event of a crew failure. In principle, he said, YES.
Justin Coleman, also known by the rowing fraternity as ‘Thruster’, I’m guessing because of his connection with a previous attempt to pedal the Atlantic, see this entry http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Justins-3000-mile-pedalo-adventure-to-conquer-Atlantic-12092012.htm was in Grantchester as part of what he described as his life as a semi-professional stand-up comic.
After yesterday’s meeting with ’Tiny’ Little, we are collecting ocean rowing scalps at a great rate. We are incredibly grateful to Justin for his time and advice.
Key advice in no particular order: get a boat early. People will take you seriously when you have a boat. It will also allow you to conduct trials one spring/summer before working on the boat the following winter in time for further sea trails the following year prior to launch day.
Write a pre-nup! You need to decide what happens if one of you pulls out with regards to division of money etc.
A charity association is as important part of the PR as is the company sponsorship.
Test the boat. Work out your steering options. In a rowing boat the oars are as important in changing course in a hurry to take a wave stern on as they are for providing power. If you’re pedalling how will we address this?
Finally I also threw out a fast ball and asked him whether or not he would be interested in being the third man, in the event of a crew failure. In principle, he said, YES.
Who will we meet along the way
Arch-Bishop and a comedian.
Not necessarily the same person, though the Dr Rowan Williams may indeed be a humerous man.
Grantchester Green Man http://www.thegreenmangrantchester.co.uk/and we just met up with Justin Coleman. Oh and on the way through Cambridge we saw the previous Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.
I’m not sure whether like the President of the US or the Pope, once the Arch-Bishop always the Arch-Bishop, but in any case can we take that as a good omen and wish you a pleasant saunter through town. Why is it that we expect our leaders to be big in physical stature as well as authority and are surprised by how ‘normal’ they are. I guess that’s reassuring. ‘Normal’ people can be the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, so maybe, normal people can pedal a boat across an ocean. Of course by anyone’s reckoning Dr Rowan Williams is an extra-ordinary man, but I hope you get my drift.
Not necessarily the same person, though the Dr Rowan Williams may indeed be a humerous man.
Grantchester Green Man http://www.thegreenmangrantchester.co.uk/and we just met up with Justin Coleman. Oh and on the way through Cambridge we saw the previous Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.
I’m not sure whether like the President of the US or the Pope, once the Arch-Bishop always the Arch-Bishop, but in any case can we take that as a good omen and wish you a pleasant saunter through town. Why is it that we expect our leaders to be big in physical stature as well as authority and are surprised by how ‘normal’ they are. I guess that’s reassuring. ‘Normal’ people can be the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, so maybe, normal people can pedal a boat across an ocean. Of course by anyone’s reckoning Dr Rowan Williams is an extra-ordinary man, but I hope you get my drift.
Thursday, 3 October 2013
Meeting a hero
Planning Stage 1
We had our first big planning session today, including the media strategy and a date to launch by. This blog is the first part of it. Look out for webpage with twitter and facebook feeds and spread the word. Welcome aboard.
We selected our Norwich planning room for good reasons. The Alexandra Tavern http://www.alexandratavern.co.uk/ is also the home of ‘Tiny’ Little ocean rower
and erstwhile mentor to the likes of Roz Savage http://www.rozsavage.com/ and a good number of other rowers since. His online blog http://www.tinysatlanticrow.com/ is widely regarded as one of the best ocean rowing stories.
Tiny has kindly offered to support us with advice whenever we need it and is happy for us to base ourselves in his watering hole. He brews 7 different Ales to boot, so why not.
His early advice: get the right boat. Get it surveyed and don’t necessarily buy a boat with lots of kit. He told a salutary tale of the life-raft that he rowed across the ocean for 114 days. Its maintenance and safety schedule well in date, he lent it to another rower with the proviso that if its survey date ran out, the guy would pay for the survey. It duly did and when checked it was found to be full of holes and completely useless. 70KG of extra weight that it turned out had been of only psychological benefit!
So buy a boat and then get your key equipment new. Every time.
Second piece of advice. Nothing will prepare you for the first week at sea, but do what you can to prepare. Get the boat out into the SW approaches or in a SW swell after a period of rough weather and test it and you…properly.
We had our first big planning session today, including the media strategy and a date to launch by. This blog is the first part of it. Look out for webpage with twitter and facebook feeds and spread the word. Welcome aboard.
We selected our Norwich planning room for good reasons. The Alexandra Tavern http://www.alexandratavern.co.uk/ is also the home of ‘Tiny’ Little ocean rower
and erstwhile mentor to the likes of Roz Savage http://www.rozsavage.com/ and a good number of other rowers since. His online blog http://www.tinysatlanticrow.com/ is widely regarded as one of the best ocean rowing stories.
Tiny has kindly offered to support us with advice whenever we need it and is happy for us to base ourselves in his watering hole. He brews 7 different Ales to boot, so why not.
His early advice: get the right boat. Get it surveyed and don’t necessarily buy a boat with lots of kit. He told a salutary tale of the life-raft that he rowed across the ocean for 114 days. Its maintenance and safety schedule well in date, he lent it to another rower with the proviso that if its survey date ran out, the guy would pay for the survey. It duly did and when checked it was found to be full of holes and completely useless. 70KG of extra weight that it turned out had been of only psychological benefit!
So buy a boat and then get your key equipment new. Every time.
Second piece of advice. Nothing will prepare you for the first week at sea, but do what you can to prepare. Get the boat out into the SW approaches or in a SW swell after a period of rough weather and test it and you…properly.
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Sir Derek Jacobi
Want or Need
Sir Derek Jacobi is being interviewed on the Daily Bacon on Radio 5 Live www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/dailybacon and asked what advice he would give to someone saying they wanted to be an actor. ‘If they ‘want’ to be an actor,’ he says, ‘I would advise them not to do it. If they need to be an actor then,’ he said, ‘they need to be prepared to work incredibly hard. The inference being that to be a good actor, you need not to be able to exist without being one. I wondered if that applied to me with this Ocean Rowing challenge?
What’s the difference between obsession, addiction and need? I know one thing. It is very selfish and I don’t like that part of it. Aren’t we all driven to something?
Sir Derek Jacobi is being interviewed on the Daily Bacon on Radio 5 Live www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/dailybacon and asked what advice he would give to someone saying they wanted to be an actor. ‘If they ‘want’ to be an actor,’ he says, ‘I would advise them not to do it. If they need to be an actor then,’ he said, ‘they need to be prepared to work incredibly hard. The inference being that to be a good actor, you need not to be able to exist without being one. I wondered if that applied to me with this Ocean Rowing challenge?
What’s the difference between obsession, addiction and need? I know one thing. It is very selfish and I don’t like that part of it. Aren’t we all driven to something?
Rossiter Yachts
For Sale or Hire ?
In the interim, Steve has been in touch with Rossiter Yachts www.rossiteryachts.co.uk and I try to find out about the propulsion system on the boat and I chase up Justin Coleman to see if ‘Atlantic Song’ is still for sale. Justin gets back to me to say that the boat sold about 2 months ago and he’s not sure why it’s still on the web, but we’re grateful it is.
Justin attempted to row the Atlantic back in 2004 with Henry Dale and abandoned his attempt after about 1000 miles. His partner went on to finish it alone. I e-mail him back, dying to ask what happened, but instead ask if he would be willing to meet us so that we can glean as much experience from him as possible.
It’s amazing what you find when you start to look at other pedal attempts at the Atlantic. There aren‘t many. I mean, hardly any that have succeeded. Check out this from 2007. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-486190/Man-returns-round-world-pedal-boat-trip-13-years.html As far as I can find this is the only completed crossing of the E-W route. Completed by Jason Lewis as part of his round the world odessey that took 13 years. When he set out The Dome wasn’t even built!
Interesting to see that he travelled in an enclosed cockpit akin to the idea taken considerably further by Torpedalo, but I can’t find what happened to that one. http://www.torpedalo.com/
There are glossy web entries and some great pictures of the boat. Lots of talk of nakedness, that is old hat these days, isn’t it in the ocean rowing world? But the story dies a death somewhere in 2011/12 and I can’t find out what happened to it. According to Justin, one of the team left Bentley and the sponsors drifted away, but I’ve no proof. I wonder where the boat is now?
This craft, one of a number designed and built by Greg Kolodziejzyk did sea trials the outcome of which he discusses here, http://adventuresofgreg.com/blog/2010/09/22/pedal-the-ocean-expedition-canceled/ and there are more.
In the interim, Steve has been in touch with Rossiter Yachts www.rossiteryachts.co.uk and I try to find out about the propulsion system on the boat and I chase up Justin Coleman to see if ‘Atlantic Song’ is still for sale. Justin gets back to me to say that the boat sold about 2 months ago and he’s not sure why it’s still on the web, but we’re grateful it is.
Justin attempted to row the Atlantic back in 2004 with Henry Dale and abandoned his attempt after about 1000 miles. His partner went on to finish it alone. I e-mail him back, dying to ask what happened, but instead ask if he would be willing to meet us so that we can glean as much experience from him as possible.
It’s amazing what you find when you start to look at other pedal attempts at the Atlantic. There aren‘t many. I mean, hardly any that have succeeded. Check out this from 2007. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-486190/Man-returns-round-world-pedal-boat-trip-13-years.html As far as I can find this is the only completed crossing of the E-W route. Completed by Jason Lewis as part of his round the world odessey that took 13 years. When he set out The Dome wasn’t even built!
Interesting to see that he travelled in an enclosed cockpit akin to the idea taken considerably further by Torpedalo, but I can’t find what happened to that one. http://www.torpedalo.com/
There are glossy web entries and some great pictures of the boat. Lots of talk of nakedness, that is old hat these days, isn’t it in the ocean rowing world? But the story dies a death somewhere in 2011/12 and I can’t find out what happened to it. According to Justin, one of the team left Bentley and the sponsors drifted away, but I’ve no proof. I wonder where the boat is now?
This craft, one of a number designed and built by Greg Kolodziejzyk did sea trials the outcome of which he discusses here, http://adventuresofgreg.com/blog/2010/09/22/pedal-the-ocean-expedition-canceled/ and there are more.
Monday, 30 September 2013
Support Network
Blue Boar, Great Ryburgh
Steve and his partner Michelle arrange to meet Laura and I for a meal. Michelle knows what it was like to be on the ‘other end’ while Steve was away for 4 ½ months cycling around the world and wisely suggests we meet to allow Laura a chance to hear her perspective? She and Michelle will need to connect as well as Steve and I and this is an important get together for us all.
We meet at the Blue Boar in Great Ryburgh, www.blueboar-norfolk.co.uk/ not by recommendation, but proof of the value of a good website and a useful half-way house for two halves of a team that live 40 miles apart. A website, now that’s on our list. Any good developers out there who would like to offer their services. Please get in touch.
As part of our broader network building we take the opportunity to chat to the Head Chef and Landlord James, about our plans and promise to keep him in the loop so that he and his patrons can follow our progress in the build-up and live in two years time.
Steve and his partner Michelle arrange to meet Laura and I for a meal. Michelle knows what it was like to be on the ‘other end’ while Steve was away for 4 ½ months cycling around the world and wisely suggests we meet to allow Laura a chance to hear her perspective? She and Michelle will need to connect as well as Steve and I and this is an important get together for us all.
We meet at the Blue Boar in Great Ryburgh, www.blueboar-norfolk.co.uk/ not by recommendation, but proof of the value of a good website and a useful half-way house for two halves of a team that live 40 miles apart. A website, now that’s on our list. Any good developers out there who would like to offer their services. Please get in touch.
As part of our broader network building we take the opportunity to chat to the Head Chef and Landlord James, about our plans and promise to keep him in the loop so that he and his patrons can follow our progress in the build-up and live in two years time.
Atlantic Song
Atlantic Song
‘Atlantic Song’, previously 'The Reason Why' had been converted by Rossiter Yachts. info@rossiteryachts.com. Charlie Rossiter has had an association with the Ocean Rowing Society for years and had in conjunction with Southampton University created a pedal drive to fit into an oval slot in the boats hull just forward of the foot well by the main cabin door. They had also worked on an enhanced marine deckchair seen here in the photo of the boat.
I’ve found footage of the boat under comedian power and she’s moving surprisingly quickly I’m thinking for a big boat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxWFAi1LnKoI discover later from ‘Tiny’ Little that Justin also answers to ‘Thruster’, so this is maybe why.
Anyway, we determine to follow all this up and to try and make contact with Justin.
‘Atlantic Song’, previously 'The Reason Why' had been converted by Rossiter Yachts. info@rossiteryachts.com. Charlie Rossiter has had an association with the Ocean Rowing Society for years and had in conjunction with Southampton University created a pedal drive to fit into an oval slot in the boats hull just forward of the foot well by the main cabin door. They had also worked on an enhanced marine deckchair seen here in the photo of the boat.
I’ve found footage of the boat under comedian power and she’s moving surprisingly quickly I’m thinking for a big boat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxWFAi1LnKoI discover later from ‘Tiny’ Little that Justin also answers to ‘Thruster’, so this is maybe why.
Anyway, we determine to follow all this up and to try and make contact with Justin.
Pedal Power. NOT a Pedalo!
Pedal it.
Steve calls me to ask if I’ve thought about pedalling across! Left field or what! I’m thrown completely of course. I’ve spent 9 years thinking about how to put a rowing boat together to cross and ocean ignoring the biggest deficiency in my physique. I have no arm muscles to speak of and have spent my life cycling everywhere. I didn’t acquire the nickname of ‘chunkles’ for nothing. I know, you need legs to row, but be fair, you also need arms.
Steve has already found a boat. ‘Atlantic Song’ http://www.oceanrowers.com/?page_id=994 previously owned by Justin Coleman a comedian from Leicestershire. Of course he’s a comedian. Pedalos are for comedians aren’t they Freddie?
Seriously it seems this idea also has legs.
Steve calls me to ask if I’ve thought about pedalling across! Left field or what! I’m thrown completely of course. I’ve spent 9 years thinking about how to put a rowing boat together to cross and ocean ignoring the biggest deficiency in my physique. I have no arm muscles to speak of and have spent my life cycling everywhere. I didn’t acquire the nickname of ‘chunkles’ for nothing. I know, you need legs to row, but be fair, you also need arms.
Steve has already found a boat. ‘Atlantic Song’ http://www.oceanrowers.com/?page_id=994 previously owned by Justin Coleman a comedian from Leicestershire. Of course he’s a comedian. Pedalos are for comedians aren’t they Freddie?
Seriously it seems this idea also has legs.
Friday, 27 September 2013
Steve Phillips
Second piece of the Jigsaw
Steve Phillips of http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/cyclists-set-for-battle-in-epic-round-the-world-race-33068/ that introduces his Trans-Globe cycle race is worth a look. Some adventure. Maybe something for retirement. So this is the fella that's called in from the East.
I was in King’s Lynn this afternoon and had a spare hour. Steve was at home. This is weird calling in on a stranger whom your planning to spend 2 ½ months cooped up in a boat with. He’s normal enough! What did I expect really from an Officer of the Law!
In a short half hour we broadly establish that we’re in this for similar reasons. We’re not racers but live for the challenge. This seems to fit the bill. Has he thought about it before? It’s passed across his radar. He has a colleague who did it a few years ago. Mick Burchill, the first of many Atlantic Rowers that we are about to meet as it happens, who spent his allotted time riding the ocean waves with a late change crew-partner Lia in 'Dream Maker', back in 2009/10.
Have I thought about it before? Only for about 9 years my wife reminds me as we approach our 8th wedding anniversary and I still haven’t put it down.
Very quickly the conversation focusses on timing and I leave contemplating 2015, instead of 2017.
Steve Phillips of http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/cyclists-set-for-battle-in-epic-round-the-world-race-33068/ that introduces his Trans-Globe cycle race is worth a look. Some adventure. Maybe something for retirement. So this is the fella that's called in from the East.
I was in King’s Lynn this afternoon and had a spare hour. Steve was at home. This is weird calling in on a stranger whom your planning to spend 2 ½ months cooped up in a boat with. He’s normal enough! What did I expect really from an Officer of the Law!
In a short half hour we broadly establish that we’re in this for similar reasons. We’re not racers but live for the challenge. This seems to fit the bill. Has he thought about it before? It’s passed across his radar. He has a colleague who did it a few years ago. Mick Burchill, the first of many Atlantic Rowers that we are about to meet as it happens, who spent his allotted time riding the ocean waves with a late change crew-partner Lia in 'Dream Maker', back in 2009/10.
Have I thought about it before? Only for about 9 years my wife reminds me as we approach our 8th wedding anniversary and I still haven’t put it down.
Very quickly the conversation focusses on timing and I leave contemplating 2015, instead of 2017.
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Lost and Found
Lost and Found
IT! Hope this is no omen, though for those that know me, problems with IT would be no surprise. So the Istanbul cyclist has appeared out of the Turkish steam. Apparently trying to get in touch for ages, but with a disconnect somewhere over e-mail addresses.
What a huge relief. Of course this is no guarantee of anything. We might dislike each other or be completely incompatible. Hey Cilla, Blind date has nothing on us.
So check out the Trans-Continental Race website http://www.transcontinentalrace.com/and maybe see you at Westminster Bridge next August.
IT! Hope this is no omen, though for those that know me, problems with IT would be no surprise. So the Istanbul cyclist has appeared out of the Turkish steam. Apparently trying to get in touch for ages, but with a disconnect somewhere over e-mail addresses.
What a huge relief. Of course this is no guarantee of anything. We might dislike each other or be completely incompatible. Hey Cilla, Blind date has nothing on us.
So check out the Trans-Continental Race website http://www.transcontinentalrace.com/and maybe see you at Westminster Bridge next August.
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Hunting for a Crew Mate
Hunting for a crew mate.
A couple of weeks ago I posted an ad. on http://www.explorersconnect.com/ and received a reply from a fellow adventurer. About to launch himself on a cycle race from the UK to Istanbul, we plan to meet up at the end of the month to check each other out and to head out on the bikes for a few hours. Apparently that's what guys do best: doing. Communicating through play. Check out http://www.transcontinentalrace.com/
I wish him well. That kind of distance in 2 weeks is a tough call and will certainly set down a marker for me to live up to. There's nothing like a challenge and a goal to motivate though and it will be crucial for us to be at our fittest if we are serious about crossing the Atlantic Ocean in four years time.
I have a long way to go on that score having been lax since my cycle back in 2010. In the last 10 days I have managed three runs, two cycles and a swim and it feels really good to be working toward something again.
I wish him well. That kind of distance in 2 weeks is a tough call and will certainly set down a marker for me to live up to. There's nothing like a challenge and a goal to motivate though and it will be crucial for us to be at our fittest if we are serious about crossing the Atlantic Ocean in four years time.
I have a long way to go on that score having been lax since my cycle back in 2010. In the last 10 days I have managed three runs, two cycles and a swim and it feels really good to be working toward something again.
Thursday, 15 August 2013
From Llanberis Pass
Thursday, 15 August 2013
From Llanberis pass
Form the road , I dropped down the valley in rapidly increasing temperatures and no wind. It was still only 08:30 in the morning, but it would take me the best part of 2 hours to crawl up the slopes of Elidir Fawr.
At intervals I stopped for a slug of water and as the path crossed the stream half way up, I dumped my head into its frigid waters and relished in the relief it gave. In truth I was beginning to appreciate how long it had been since I last walked any distance. A life time of walking, running, swimming, cycling, you name it can soon be lost in the confines of an office. But that's ok. I didn't really expect it to be any different and I liked the challenge I had set myself all the more for knowing that I would have to work hard in the days, weeks and months ahead.
On the summit I met a women and her two dogs running. The second of the four legged joggers looked as old as the hills. I marvelled at their stamina but worried about the effects of the heat and no water on an animal that age. I've no doubt he had being doing it day in day out for years and there in lay the reason why he could and I was finding that it wasn't as easy as I would like.
Thirty minutes later as I crouched against the only boulder capable of providing any shade, I watched as another couple of fell runners dropped rapidly down the hill toward me. The girl looked in better shape and they were also headed over the same route as I. They had made a much smarter choice, starting that morning at Pen Y Pass. From there they had summited Crib Goch direct before doing the ridge and then Snowdon before descending the railway line to a point above Nant Peris to where I had started up Elidir Fawr.
For all the times I had walked across these hills, I had never yet seen some of the more notable landmarks. Somehow I had avoided the mountains most well known features, Bristley Ridge, The Cantilever and even Adam and Eve atop Tryfan. Mostly because I'd previously been so unlucky with the weather, more often navigating with a compass across the Glyders plateau than roasting in a late July scorcher.
From Adam and Eve I dropped straight down the boulder field to the north west and the Ogwen cafe, except that it is being rebuilt and has been substituted in the interim by an excellent food and drinks van.
My weekend in North Wales was done and for two days I would hobble around on thigh muscles that had relearned a good lesson.
Since I got back I have started a list diary of training. I make no excuse for the apparent lack of ambition in this. Rome wasn't built in a day and I've been here before. Endurance training has to start somewhere. It will be interesting to look back at these early entries in a few months time.
In the mean-time I await the return of my possible partner to find out if we can really get started on the Atlantic 2017 bid.
At intervals I stopped for a slug of water and as the path crossed the stream half way up, I dumped my head into its frigid waters and relished in the relief it gave. In truth I was beginning to appreciate how long it had been since I last walked any distance. A life time of walking, running, swimming, cycling, you name it can soon be lost in the confines of an office. But that's ok. I didn't really expect it to be any different and I liked the challenge I had set myself all the more for knowing that I would have to work hard in the days, weeks and months ahead.
On the summit I met a women and her two dogs running. The second of the four legged joggers looked as old as the hills. I marvelled at their stamina but worried about the effects of the heat and no water on an animal that age. I've no doubt he had being doing it day in day out for years and there in lay the reason why he could and I was finding that it wasn't as easy as I would like.
Thirty minutes later as I crouched against the only boulder capable of providing any shade, I watched as another couple of fell runners dropped rapidly down the hill toward me. The girl looked in better shape and they were also headed over the same route as I. They had made a much smarter choice, starting that morning at Pen Y Pass. From there they had summited Crib Goch direct before doing the ridge and then Snowdon before descending the railway line to a point above Nant Peris to where I had started up Elidir Fawr.
For all the times I had walked across these hills, I had never yet seen some of the more notable landmarks. Somehow I had avoided the mountains most well known features, Bristley Ridge, The Cantilever and even Adam and Eve atop Tryfan. Mostly because I'd previously been so unlucky with the weather, more often navigating with a compass across the Glyders plateau than roasting in a late July scorcher.
From Adam and Eve I dropped straight down the boulder field to the north west and the Ogwen cafe, except that it is being rebuilt and has been substituted in the interim by an excellent food and drinks van.My weekend in North Wales was done and for two days I would hobble around on thigh muscles that had relearned a good lesson.
Since I got back I have started a list diary of training. I make no excuse for the apparent lack of ambition in this. Rome wasn't built in a day and I've been here before. Endurance training has to start somewhere. It will be interesting to look back at these early entries in a few months time.
In the mean-time I await the return of my possible partner to find out if we can really get started on the Atlantic 2017 bid.
Wednesday, 14 August 2013
Welsh 3000s
Welsh 3000s
The weekend before last I took on the Welsh 3000s http://www.welsh3000s.co.uk/ and was sorely beaten, but not. The temperatures were in the high 20s throughout the weekend. Climbing Snowdon the evening before, it was 24 degrees at 10 at night and I felt comfortable in my decision to leave my sleeping bag behind.
The summit was littered with other cacooned walkers intent on the same goal. I hunkered down on the platform and endured a comfortable though surprisingly chilly night before rising at 04:30 to head off across Crib Goch.
The forescast was for a hot sultry day and with the suns rays reflecting off the rock, it was to be a scorcher that sapped my strength and sucked the fluid from me. I thought of the conditions in a small boat mid-atlantic and began to get an appreciation of just how much brackish water I would be drinking.
I carried very little with me beyond some food and about 4 litres of water and some sachets of fruit juice. The water was all gone by the time I was down on the road below Dinas Cromlech and its most famous route, Cenotaph Corner. I was reminded of books I had read of this unforgiving routes' first climbers and of the famous that had since followed in their footsteps on their way to the worlds most renowned summits.
A youth hostel by the road housed an early bird who kindly filled my drained bottles and I headed off down the road to Nant Peris, (Old Llanberis,) and the foot of Elidir Fawr.
The weekend before last I took on the Welsh 3000s http://www.welsh3000s.co.uk/ and was sorely beaten, but not. The temperatures were in the high 20s throughout the weekend. Climbing Snowdon the evening before, it was 24 degrees at 10 at night and I felt comfortable in my decision to leave my sleeping bag behind.
The summit was littered with other cacooned walkers intent on the same goal. I hunkered down on the platform and endured a comfortable though surprisingly chilly night before rising at 04:30 to head off across Crib Goch.
The forescast was for a hot sultry day and with the suns rays reflecting off the rock, it was to be a scorcher that sapped my strength and sucked the fluid from me. I thought of the conditions in a small boat mid-atlantic and began to get an appreciation of just how much brackish water I would be drinking.
A youth hostel by the road housed an early bird who kindly filled my drained bottles and I headed off down the road to Nant Peris, (Old Llanberis,) and the foot of Elidir Fawr.
Saturday, 10 August 2013
History
Beginnings
Back farther ago than I can remember' possibly even as an unconscious transition from scouting and a childhood spent roaming the local woodlands of central Suffolk, I have been captivated by stories of adventure.
My bookcase such as it is, sandwiched between a plethora of novels by female authors on broadly feminist subjects or issues, (observation only,) is made up almost entirely of books old and new, on the subject of exploration, adventure and discovery. They are treasures in themselves, currently safeguarded from young tearing hands by the highest shelf, where my sons gaze at them as I have done the summits of rediculous mountains, wondering whether I could ever pluck up the courage to climb that high.
My youngest, shows signs of intent and no fear. If I'm not careful, I might yet lose both the books and the attainment of my long held desire to reach out beyond what I think I am capable of, before he beats me to both.
That is unless, of course, I do something about it. Now, before it is too late.
I have scrabbled around on the very fringes of these worlds and I mean the extreme fringes, hesitant and envious, unsure and yet drawn by the idea of heading out into the unknown. I have climbed Mont Blanc, meandered around the Andes as part of an expedition whilst I was at Britannia Royal Naval College in the early 90s and spent weeks at a time weaving through the valleys and cresting the summits of Knoydart and Applecross in the western Highlands.
A couple of years ago, - born out of the frustration at not feeling able to launch myself on the yet unmentioned challenge in whose name this Blog is launched, - I planned a solo Land's End to John O'Groats, taking in the 3 peaks on the way, because it simply wasn't enough to simply cycle End to End.
I wrote a blog at the time that you can find if you google LEJOG4Samaritans. For those that are interested in that particular challenge, you might find some useful pointers in there. Though I wouldn't lay claim to any expertise on the subject, I might suggest that I was fortunate enough to have picked one of the most scenic and rewarding routes to the tip of Scotland and would recommend anyone to repeat that route. I hope only that you are blessed with the weather that I had back in 2010.
This blog is not about that, however. This blog is about my desire, long held, to take on the Talisker Whiskey Trans-Atlantic Challenge. To row a small boat across the approximately 3,000 miles of open ocean, to arrive some while later in the Caribbean.
By all accounts, the journey to the start line in La Gomera in The Canaries, is as great a challenge as the row itself and I suspect that to be true. I qualify on one count already, however, by having maintained the desire to achieve this goal for long enough for me to take myself seriously.
This is my first blog entry, though not my first step. I hope that you will enjoy the journey with me, as I chart my passage from desire to reality. Certainly, if the support I received whilst in the saddle back in 2010 is anything to go by, having you along for the ride will be of enormous benefit to me.
To encourage you, I should hint at having acquired at least some support team members and the very distinct possibility of a crew-mate, but more of that to come.
Have a read of LEJOG4Samaritans and welcome aboard. 'Atlantic Cyclone' is my attempt to cross the Atlantic by my own efforts in 2017.
My bookcase such as it is, sandwiched between a plethora of novels by female authors on broadly feminist subjects or issues, (observation only,) is made up almost entirely of books old and new, on the subject of exploration, adventure and discovery. They are treasures in themselves, currently safeguarded from young tearing hands by the highest shelf, where my sons gaze at them as I have done the summits of rediculous mountains, wondering whether I could ever pluck up the courage to climb that high.
My youngest, shows signs of intent and no fear. If I'm not careful, I might yet lose both the books and the attainment of my long held desire to reach out beyond what I think I am capable of, before he beats me to both.
That is unless, of course, I do something about it. Now, before it is too late.
I have scrabbled around on the very fringes of these worlds and I mean the extreme fringes, hesitant and envious, unsure and yet drawn by the idea of heading out into the unknown. I have climbed Mont Blanc, meandered around the Andes as part of an expedition whilst I was at Britannia Royal Naval College in the early 90s and spent weeks at a time weaving through the valleys and cresting the summits of Knoydart and Applecross in the western Highlands.
A couple of years ago, - born out of the frustration at not feeling able to launch myself on the yet unmentioned challenge in whose name this Blog is launched, - I planned a solo Land's End to John O'Groats, taking in the 3 peaks on the way, because it simply wasn't enough to simply cycle End to End.
I wrote a blog at the time that you can find if you google LEJOG4Samaritans. For those that are interested in that particular challenge, you might find some useful pointers in there. Though I wouldn't lay claim to any expertise on the subject, I might suggest that I was fortunate enough to have picked one of the most scenic and rewarding routes to the tip of Scotland and would recommend anyone to repeat that route. I hope only that you are blessed with the weather that I had back in 2010.This blog is not about that, however. This blog is about my desire, long held, to take on the Talisker Whiskey Trans-Atlantic Challenge. To row a small boat across the approximately 3,000 miles of open ocean, to arrive some while later in the Caribbean.
By all accounts, the journey to the start line in La Gomera in The Canaries, is as great a challenge as the row itself and I suspect that to be true. I qualify on one count already, however, by having maintained the desire to achieve this goal for long enough for me to take myself seriously.
This is my first blog entry, though not my first step. I hope that you will enjoy the journey with me, as I chart my passage from desire to reality. Certainly, if the support I received whilst in the saddle back in 2010 is anything to go by, having you along for the ride will be of enormous benefit to me.
To encourage you, I should hint at having acquired at least some support team members and the very distinct possibility of a crew-mate, but more of that to come.
Have a read of LEJOG4Samaritans and welcome aboard. 'Atlantic Cyclone' is my attempt to cross the Atlantic by my own efforts in 2017.
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