Matt Boreham Ocean Rower: Update

Sore bottoms

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:41:36 -0500

Well over half way now, and less than a week we hope to the under 1000miles to go. Constant bad weather has caused non stop rowing problems for the boys. Every time you look on the weather sites the waves are going south or east- not following the traditional trade route patterns. So it has been hard work- not that it isn't normally. Everything is sore including the ocean rowers bottom- however thanks to the black sheep fleece, no boils! just salt water sores. Matt however is in good spirits as he can see the end in sight. Fixing the cooker was also a great boost. Dispite having taken several, they have found the constant spray a cooker killer and were down to their last one, however Matt managed to get one that had given up the ghost back and working. Better weather has been a great boost too. But still over 20 days to go- it has been a long haul, not only for them but for us left behind.

Messages from Matt

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:58:49 -0600

Well Matt is pleased this week with the conditions. It has been hard out there, constant poor weather following them, but the stereo is working again and they are at last able to row. Matt sounded very cheerful in his last message to me.

Latest news

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:56:49 -0600

Monday 4th Feb- Luxury hot food! Day: 25Distance covered: 432 milesSince being stuck in our cabin for nearly the whole of my birthday, we areplease to report that we've been busy rowing over the weekend (31 miles onSaturday and 30 miles on Sunday).We saw another fishing vessel today, which we kept a eye on following theclose call we experienced last week. It turned out that we were right towatch this boat too, because as they started to come near us we realisedthey were also on a collision course! Again, following maritimeprocedures, we tried to contact the vessel by radio and this time theyanswered, thankfully! So not such a close call this time, but well worthfollowing the necessary procedures.The best news is that we've eaten our first hot food in ages. We atefreeze- dried beef casserole last night, which was actually really tasty!This morning we tucked into freeze-dried porridge, rice pudding and coffee- a real luxury!Although our overall progress has been slow, we always knew that the firstfew weeks would be the hardest. So here's hoping that the bad weather willstart to get behind us and the hard slog south puts us in a strongerposition to pick up the trade winds, because we're certainly not planningto still be rowing in six months time! Thank you for your continued messages of support, we're really grateful.

Update Sunday 27th

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 10:57:18 -0600

Hi, Spoke to Matt twice this week. He is in good spirits dispite the week. The weather has not let up, they managed to make some distance on Sat 19th, but then were back on the sea anchor the next. Mid week they were going backward, then again some miles covered. Yesterday they were back on the sea anchor again. But on the plus side the stereo is working once again. They spent some time clearing the lockers out as they are leaking, and it is not dry enough for them to seal them. They also cleaned the growths of the bottom of the boat. So they have been putting their time to good use.

Phone Call from Matt tonight.

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 03:08:34 -0600

Hi, Got a call from Matt tonight which was great. He is very frustrated with the weather- but in the 97 rowing race he had similar weather so he is resigned to it. They were able to row today, but the weather is picking up again so they will probably have to go back on the anchor tonight, and hope that tomorrow is better. Conditions on board are wet- this boat is a wet boat Matt says, some of the lockers leak. The stereo has gotten too wet to work, which is a disaster, as music is an important part of on board living. Food is an issue already- when you cannot get what you fancy and the same menue in a packet comes round again.......... Matt hopes they will be able to get into a system soon, as all their ideas of shifts have been blown away by the weather. He is hoping they will be able to get a pattern together soon- weather permitting. But dispite all the problems, he sounded good- misses us alot (or is it the home cooking?) but says he is frustrated but ok. Lets all hope for better weather next week for them. Ali

Update from Alan on the boat

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:46:52 -0600

Seasickness subsiding! 15th January 2008 We have now been at sea for more than 100 hours and the weather is good, which is a vast improvement from the first hours of the row, when the sea was choppy. As I suspected, I have had a bout of sea-sickness, but am pleased to report that this is improving! Rowing with a bucket between your legs, really does provide that extra challenge! Although I have been at sea before (on submarines), I have never lived on such confined surroundings. However, the boat is performing well and we successfully navigated our way through a fishing fleet outside La Gomera, carefully avoiding being trawled. We have already seen a variety of wildlife, including the first flying fish and a pod of dolphins - who soon swam away, as I guess we were not going fast enough. I am already missing fresh fruit, as we consume our freeze-dried food (e.g. tuna pasta), power bars and porridge and seek to continue to make steady progress.

Giving Blood

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:32:42 -0600

Hi all, well boys are rowing well- keeping a steady pace dispite the sea sickness. Once this first week is over the pace should pick up as they both feel better. It is great to watch that dot move every day- see their progress on www.atlanticrow4sense.com . (where are we?page) Matt and Alan's fund raising pages are doing well- Over �7,000 raised so far! Please sponsor if you can. Matt would like me to mention the National Blood service, and giving blood. Matt would not be here today rowing if it were not the blood donors whose blood kept him alive having been run over by the bus. Both Matt and I are regular donors- you get a lie down, cup of tea/crisps/biscuit and save up to 3 lives. Blood stocks are lower at the moment due to time of year and the winter V virus. So please if you can, go and help save lives soon. Ali

First contact

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 04:52:22 -0600

Hi- I am very pleased, Matt called me last night and I am the first call from the boat! All is well. Sea sickness has hit both Matt and Alan. Matt says Alan is doing well rowing with a bucket between his legs. Sea sickness is always a problem the first week or so (though for some it can kick in later) so at least they get it over with early. Matt is pleased with the number of miles covered considering the sea conditions which are quite choppy. So all is well. The other boats have all now left too, so that is good. We wish all boats a safe crossing. Ali

The row begins!

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:45:20 -0600

Hi, well the last few days have been very frustrating, waiting for clearance from the authorities. Each day might have been the day they could go, but wasn't. Finally today it came. So Matt and Alan cleared the apartment and set off. The last text from Matt said they had cleared the harbour at 12.23pm. To check their progress- please use this row's official web site www.atlanticrow4sense.com

No Start today

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:39:21 -0600

Hi ALL. Sorry there has been no update for a bit. Matt and Alan left for the trip on New Years day from Gatwick airport. Dispite all the various bits of kit in the bags, the flight went well and they arrived ok. Weather nice and hot. Boat already there so the next day it was put in the water. Since then there have been the normal jobs pre- row. A full electrical test, to check nothing had been damaged in transit- and so on. Woodvale wanted to check the boat out, so that happened yesterday and all was well. Boys were hoping to start rowing today (8th). Had a good weather window for the next couple of days. However- dispite everything Alan and Matt have done to get all their paperwork through- possible problems with 2 other boats hoping to go are causing a problem, as the authorities seem to want to clear the boats as a group. So dispite saying that one boat (ours) has all the paperwork, they want to clear the 3 together. So we do not know at this time when they will start. It is at the will of the authorities. Frustrating at this stage as everything is ready to go. I will keep you informed of any news. Ali