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                 The ORS Int. is the official adjudicator of ocean rowing records for Guinness World Records

 
Brett Sparrow and Scott Wonenberg
"Against All Odds".

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January 20, 2004
All teams readying themselves for the start. Said our goodbyes. Pavel came to our boat and in Russian tradition I shared a farewell vodka with him.
Asked permission to row out with the race entrants to see them off. Pretty hard on us to watch them head off into the distance whilst we sat in the calm water, wishing them our good will with a couple dorada and a cigarette. The only thing we could do to numb our disappointment in not being with them all.
Boats of entrants in ORSARR2004, rowing out of the Marina to the start line
 About an hour after the start we turned the bow towards the entrance to the marina. Many race spectators commented on our return. Most thought we had already given up.
 As we came close to a magnificent wooden yacht, a distinguished gentleman leant out and asked us what our problem was. We said that sponsorship was a problem and could not enter the race. He promptly said he would give us one hundred euros to help out. Turns out he was married to one of the princesses of Denmark.

Channel three Canarias Television crew came by to do an interview with us. We showed them in our boat and pointed out all the intricacies.

Continued sorting packing and packing our gear. Some of which had just been given to us by Carpe’ Diem, Mark Mortimer and Sam Knight.

Went up to the Blue Marlin bar for a drink. Told that some Irishman who had arrived the previous morning were looking for us. The yacht crew from…………. And their clients asked us to join their table. Asked us how much we needed to be able to start our crossing. Were not too sure how serious they were but kinda figured we could get by with a thousand euros. Two gentleman pulled out 500 euros each from their wallets and handed it over. We were ecstatic.
January 21, 2004
 
Scott went across to Tenerife. I shopped for the remaining things on our ‘to maybe buy’ list. Scott took a few items we did not need back to Tenerife and to say goodbye to Marife.

Quite a number of people who had come for the start of the race waited till we left. We hoped it would be the next day but still had a problem with our watermaker. We wanted to at least give the race competitors a couple days head start too. Give us something to chase. We also did not want to leave before we were as ready as possible. We were still trying to get our hands on an EPIRB and an ARGOS tracking beacon.

Another yacht pulled in owned by an American, Rick. He had a spare one he was willing to lend us. The ocean rowing society discussed it and allowed us to use it instead of the accepted version. And let us use the last remaining ARGOS if we signed an agreement that we would pay it off one month after we landed.

Stein had been trying to get our recently recovered water maker going but said that it was irreparable. It had never been to the factory for repair after all. However he very kindly let us use his one from White Admiral. Water is probably the most important single item on a yacht but he said his inboard tanks were full and he would re-supply in Cape Verde islands.

We still knew how much he was giving up though and will ever be indebted for his help. He connected it up for us and it worked perfectly even after two Atlantic rowing crossings it had done by him and his wife.

Scott arrived on the ferry with two ………., Spanish traditional dried pigs legs. Should take care of our fat deficient foods.

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