We are safe and recovering well
Row Across The Pond
Richard Hoyland and Steve Coe
Wed 24 Mar 2010 15:37
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Steve...
I know you may already know this, but
just in case you don't, in a similar vein of words of Neil Armstrongs words. The
Canary Has Landed.
The run up to the finish line included the evening when we
would be in our normal boat routine which included the traditional blog.
But on this evening, we were besides oursleves with excitement and preparations
for arriving and we neglected our duty to keep you updated,,, we sincerely
appololgise for this communication break down..
During the last few miles we, continued to make good
ground although believe it or not we were dismayed that our boat speed had
reduced from 3 knots to only 2.35knots per hour..
This was a bit of a blow. Going slower to get home was not the
way we wanted it to end.. But the speed was still excellent compared to much
else we had experienced over the previous months.. What we did not want to
happen, which had done so or numerous occasssion before was the weather to
change in an instance and stop us in our tracks..
The clock ticked, we made the 20 mile phone call to the race
organinser, we made the 10 mile call to the race organiser.. we REALLY WERE
GOING TO FINISH.. We were not going to sleep.. we kept going.. we made the VHF
Call the the support boat to meet with us.
The wind was whistling past our ears and it had quite a bit of
Northing in it, so we had a bit of struggle not to be pushed south,.. Not
quite what we needed for an entrance into the Enlgish Harbour to the north of
us.. But we had no choice.. We set the GPS to put us mid way on the finish
line which was a mile long and running north to south from a Light house called
Cape Shirley.. This light we thought we could see some 20 miles out..
The support vessel said they would meet with us with one mile
to go.. IT WAS PITCH BLACK.. 0300 hrs, no moonlight, no clear skies.. seas
were running fast and furious.. We were about three miles out and still
could not recognise the light and we looked more like 10 miles from the light of
cape shirley??
Continually, we checked our GPS which we had to put 100%
faith in. Things did not look right,, we checked and rechecked the chart.. we
continued on course. With one mile to go the coast line changed and two dark
moutains appeared near on the coast,, too near perhaps,, were we right with out
navigation? We expexcted to see the support rib by now but nothing
appeared??
We called the rib, they were late and were about 1/2 mile
away.. where were they?
The lights of the coast dissappeared and now all we thought is
we may be heading out to sea again,, surely we were not wrong on this,, Then a
light appeared it was the support boat... Were we so releived to see this...
Another half mile to go to the finish... then the hooter went..WE HAD DONE
IT.. we had completed the crossing,, the shear relief was unbeleivable..
no time to stop we had a furious full on wind knocking us about..
Simon Chalk offered a tow or did we want to row,, We asked
advice and I continued to row whilst Rich gave steering instruction on following
the rib,,, The time to the harbour was estimated another half hour row,, not
alot considering the time already spent on the oars.. eventually after a battle
with the winds we finally took shelter of English Harbour and our first
experience of terra firma for 76 days.. We could not believe this moment
was ever going to happen.. A typical carribean safe harbour
with yachts of all shapes and sizes.. Fantastic to be here.. We
quietly made our way through anchored boats to the quay.. The the hooters
and flares started with a welcome party at 5 in the morning..
family there on the quay side.. i am getting emotional even as i
write these words...
The boat fetched up alongside and we clambered from our home
of 76 days and nearly fell over on the quayside holding onto the our
families.
I don't think even 2 days later Rich or
myself appreciate what we have just done or been through.. some of it is still
very hazy as we recover in comfort, courtesy of Rex Resorts finest
accomodation. On the first evening of our return, we were invited to a
cocktail party, So thinking i needed and hour sleep to keep going, (all I
had in the last 76 days.. at any one time) I sneeked off, but failed to
wake for the next 15 hours. My body and mind had just stopped in its tracks..
Rich managed the coacktail party, but I have no idea how..(rich) While
completely jetlagged I was called upon to give a speech infront of the
assembled guests and answer countless questions, it was great to be
treated like conquering heros :-)
Two days later I thinks we are still in a daze given the
contrast from what we have experienced to the life as we should be used
too
Cool drinks, soft beds, no constant movement, company and
communication other than with each other,, sleep, walking... sitting, people.
green trees..etc...
We may take a few days to adjust....
PS. Shirley Light House was not operating, hence out anxiety
and confusion in the last few miles to the finish. One other boat was not so
fortunate as may have been reported on woodvale site. Although not fully sure of
the circumstances, the foul weather that morning may have been a
factor???
Rich....
We've made it in one piece :-)
For me the most emotional moment was seeing my family loom out
of the darkness, firstly I could make out a few shapes on the quayside and then
these formed into human shapes. Then as we got closer I could recognise my
family standing there in Nelson's Dockyard, if they were anything like me,
welling up with emotion. My first act was to kiss the ground before stepping out
onto dry land for the first time in months..a genuine act, I'd missed that terra
firma stuff.
Then champagne, cheers, flares being set off and then
surrounded by new friends from the other teams and my family...what more could
an ocean rower ask for :-) well....eggs benedict actually...I got that for my
first breakfast back in civilisation...as requested...then the first beer
came later..
My children had grown while I was away, time I cannot get back
with my kids but I will make it up to them! plus hopefully the row has inspired
them to achieve great things themselves.
The row has taken it's toll, I am severely fatigued (a kind of
jet lag) and my hands are still clawed from the rowing
and I cannot close them even half way!
I've lost 2 stone in weight, out on the water both Steve and
myself considered each other fat or normal weight..back amongst you normal
people we realise we are very very thin...the last time I will have a six pack
is now. Rex Resorts in Antigua are taking good care of us and I intend to have a
massage later in the week, the island and Hawksbill resort specifically are
beautiful (as I imagined) and it is a real shame that we must pack up the
boat and leave for the UK shortly.
We did this for a number of reasons but one of the major
reasons was for our respective charities
We are still collecting for the British Heart Foundation, so
please help us out
plus the Princess Alice Hospice, really could do with your
support
A special thanks to another one of our sponsors who allowed
this to happen, big thanks to Jane Boret from Steve and Rich x
To all back at Eastwick School, thanks for your constant
support, we will be back shortly to answer all questions and to show off my
clawed hands and our tans ;-)
It is sad that our blogs will come to an end, we have enjoyed
our time at sea and our time where you have let us into your lives :-) Please
take a little piece of our adventure and plant it in your lives, do something
that pushes you to your limits...make a decision to do something that you always
wanted to do but always had an excuse....in the words of one of our fellow
competitors "own your life". This is the big thing I take away from the
journey...three years ago I made a decision to row an ocean, I have done that
and I'm proud of myself and my family for following through on that path. It's
not been easy, but we did it and now embark on a new chapter of our lives, with
a fresh challenge? Love to you all out there in blogland, stay in touch and stay
safe..you never know when a 20 foot rogue wave is going to knock you off course
;-) The key thing is picking youself off of the deck, picking up your oars
and starting off again in the right direction.....
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