News
Day 57 (Mon 01 Mar 1330 - Tue 02 Mar 1330)
The figures are in for day 57 and they are good – with a total DMG of 1200nm, an average of 40nm per crew, a repeat of yesterday’s figures and an indication that the weather really has turned back in favour of the fleet.
With the crews now making great progress, morale across the fleet has rapidly elevated, with Dave Brooks exclaiming, “Booooyah! Everything’s coming up Millhouse.” Dave has made fantastic progress over the last few days and is looking to reel in Heritage Explorer, just 22nm ahead. Dave has taken 14nm out of their lead in the last 24 hours so maybe hoping to be pass them within a couple of days.
Just ahead of them, Neil and Dean onboard Spirit of MA declared how well they are holding up and while they miss their families and friends they have absolutely no regrets about the race. They are both in great spirits and are now looking to pass their fire fighting counterparts Mike Arnold and Simon Evans on board Pendovey Swift. Neil and Dean now lie 24nm behind the Pendovey Swift pair –although have lost 10nm to them overnight, but having gone past Heritage Explorer in the last day will want to capitalise on their current speed, and may even harbour hopes of getting inside the top half of the fleet – currently 80nm ahead.
It has been particularly great to see both James Ketchell – who has, rather bizarrely smelt both vinegar and freshly cut grass in recent days, and Sean McGowan making exemplary progress in the last few days. Both are now within 400nm of the half way point and the psychological boost they will get from both passing this point and making continual progress will be most significant.
It hasn’t been all good, with Richard on Red Arrow having his worst night to date, having rowed a single nautical mile during his 2 hour shift. Having reached immense fatigue, the body just wants to sleep as often as possible – as Richard will know having spent an hour of his shift asleep, though there was some confusion as to whether he managed to continue to row or not.
The outlook remains unchanged for the next few days and crews should continue to make great progress and impose themselves on English Harbour, Antigua.