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Preface to ocean crossing

The following excerpts are from our log book which we kept on board "Against All Odds".  Only a brief summery is written of some of the days to give a general idea of our amazing adventure. We are in the process of writing a book combining a previous rowing expedition we did in Africa, with the Atlantic crossing. In more ways than one the Africa expedition not only gave us valuable experience for the Atlantic but also led us down the path to finding about this incredible Atlantic crossing. A voyage not only in a physical sense but a in a mental one too.

Many have said that rowing an ocean is 90% mental and 10% physical. After having done it we would probably increase the mental importance. Will, desire, passion and attitude is what gets you to the other side; and the body will follow.

Something one forgets to consider too though is the people left behind on dry land; ones parents, family and friends. When the ocean drained every last bit of energy out of our bodies, it's them that gave us the will to survive and the strength to carry on.

We named our boat "AGAINST ALL ODDS" after nearly a year of searching for sponsors, boat and equipment to do the crossing. The entire time Scott and I felt that there was a "conspiracy" trying to make us fail. Every lead we had seemed to blow up in our face or simply vanish into thin air. It was only through our stubborn determination and our sometimes selfish tunnel vision, we did finally succeed. In a way the name chose us.

 Special thanks to Kenneth and Tatiana Crutchlow of the Ocean Rowing Society who not only found us a boat, (previously named "Carphone Warehouse" then "Transventure" which was severely damaged in an attempt to cross the Indian Ocean in 2003), but were one of the first to believe in us.

 This trip could not have been possible without so many others who came to our aid in the last minute but one special person deserves mention. Marife Wonenberg kept a roof over our heads and food in our bellies through tough times whilst we chased after our dream to row the Atlantic. She could not always understand why anyone would want to leave the obvious comforts and security of home, for a "journey for madmen", but continued to support us in her own way till the end. She is an amazing woman and we will be always indebted to her. *A list of our other sponsors appears below.

 Before we can start, an explanation is necessary for our cause, "SAVE ZIMBABWE". Only a week before we left, we still did not have sponsors to make the crossing. Although they had promised us everything, very few kept their word when it came down to paying up. Family and friends from Zimbabwe, even though their problems were more serious than ours, were willing to suffer further and send money so we did not go without everything we needed for a safe crossing. 

 Zimbabwe is suffering the worst shortages since independence in 1980. Along with the horrific Aids epidemic and starvation, it is now experiencing a negative growth rate. Basic food commodities are either short or too expensive for the ordinary man to buy. This forces people to turn to wildlife as a food source and crime as an income. Poaching has become rife and is threatening one of the greatest wildlife havens in the world. Once this is gone it will never recover, nor the country which heavily relies on tourism for income. Reason for a starving man is the screams of his stomach for food and that of his family. Survival is the strongest instinct and drives him to kill and consume. This is happening nationwide and total blame cannot be placed on the individual whose only desire is for life.

 Our hope is that media attention will be drawn back to Zimbabwe so that people worldwide will realise the seriousness of the situation and send food, medicines and aid to the struggling wildlife conservation groups. As a result not just a nation will be spared, but the world will not suffer another tragic loss of one of its delicate ecosystems.

We want to make it very clear that this is by no means a political statement but humanitarian and conservational one. Whilst every country goes through its spasms of learning how to improve its politics, life suffers. There is no point to learning without preservation first.

SPONSORS AND ASSISTANCE FROM:

-  HARM AND VICKY www.oasisfm.com ,   BUENOS ARIES CANARIAS, PHOTO BEST, MAPER, ARTWORKS BY DESIGN, PUERTO COLON’, BISTRO DE LAS ARTES, PA FREIGHT- Andrew Morris, THE IRISH- Brian Forrest & Conor Hauehey, YACHT: SVOBODA(freedom)- (Capt.Ric Tauson & Bruce Beatty), YACHT: KRAGERO- (Ole, Alf, Alex, Olav), YACHT: WHITE ADMIRAL- (Stein, Diana & Eli Hoff), POWER BOAT: LEMA III- (Ian &     ), Johnathan, Steve Gilbert, Peter & Claudine Raab, Pedro & Pancho, Doug & Anita Carol, Bob Barnsley, David & Richie, Elsa Buitendag, Mel & Tammy Crawford, Kirsten..., Ronny, Kenneth & Tatiana Crutchlow, Mark Mortimer, Sam Knight,

Belinda & Steve Sparrow-Smith, Eugenie Sparrow, Clint Sparrow, Rodger TeVaris, Bill Taylor, Capt. John Powers, MK AIRLINES, THE TRAVEL SHOP- David Shaw, Zora, Tycho, Flos & Bianca Schneider, Chris & Carys Morgan, THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT crew Chris and Mick,  Jan Meek (our angel), Martin Wood, the Boreham family, Dixie Dean and all those that supported us by following our progress and sending letters into the forum. Thank you all so much. Our trip could not have been possible without our support team.

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