The exception to the rule

A series of storms sweeping their way across the Atlantic has meant that we have been unable to depart. Even the saltiest of sea dogs has been scratching his briny beard at this unseasonal weather. We chose our departure date specifically because it was not storm season and fair weather would be likely, but alas there is always an exception to the rule.
We do have some of the world´s finest weather routers at out disposal and indications are that the nasty low pressures systems should cease inbetween christmas and the new year. With this in mind we have a new provisional start date of the 29th December.
With the continuence of a delay such as this many of the crew members were forced to face the insidious pressures of the ´real world´. This has resulted in several earnest and lugubrious crew discussions about finacial implications, deadlines and worst case scenarios. We have decided on leaving Gomera to reconvene after christmas and I believe that most of the issues have been contained and so long as we do leave this year, it will be with the original crew intact and happy!

Sun, Seasickness and Anticlimax

After heading back to the UK for my brothers wedding (congrats!) and to fulfill ADR(additional dialogue recording) committments for a film I shot earlier this year, I am now back in the Canaries with the crew. We went out for our first row here and I was in the off watch (those not rowing) to start. I was stuck in the cabin feeling a little queezy and before long was on deck vomiting into a bucket. Not a good start. I should say though I probably would´ve been sick if I stayed on land- shots at the previous nights Tropical party definately to blame! That didnt stop me jumping on and rowing when the watches swapped round, so atleast i didnt let the crew down. The next days trip went very well and we reached a speed of 5.6knts.
However since then things have very much slowed. We had a problem with our water maker and the only option was to fly out a spare part which wouldnt arrive till tuesday, meaning a likely departure date would be thursday 10th, 4 days later than planned. However to make things worse, we have just had some bad news on the weather front which has frustrated people no end, resulting in us probably having to sit tight until the 16th. Theres not really any work I can do on the boat and as the weather worsens we wont even be able to have practice rows, so hanging around is the order of the day. There´s nothing worse than doing nothing, what an anticlimax.
That said with expeditions there is always the chance of delays, so although i´m dissapointed its a case of just accepting it really. In the grand scheme of things a 10 day wait isnt the end of the world, the show must go on! And atleast the sun is shining. For now..

Here we are in La Gomera

.

Peter Gadiot in La Gomera.

The 12-seater rowing boat "Brittania III" is being prepared shortly before the planned departure in early December 2009 from the Spanish Canary Isles. Destination: Antigua, 3000 miles away! If they get there in under 33 days, they will have broken the world record!

Here are the members of the Brittania III team:

Peter Gadiot
Linda Brewer
James Scott
James Nettleton
Lise Kronborg
Neil Ward

David Hoskins

Ian Couch
Lee Fudge
Anne Miltenberger
Allan Lyngholm
Robert Prentice

Follow their progress as they row across the Atlantic Ocean here:
http://www.atlanticrowingrace09.com/progress/byteam/31/
.

Peter Gadiot explains what's going to happen

.

This is about our campaign to make the world more aware of modern-day slavery.

More info at our website http://www.rowingagainstslavery.org - please check it out and also follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/ragainstslavery and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=291911600110.

Thanks for viewing - Peter Gadiot