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Brett Sparrow and Scott Wonenberg
"Against All Odds".

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January 22, 2004
Dawn, checking lists and repacking the hatches and distributing weight evenly. Solar panel charging the batteries to max.

10.00 Told Kenneth we should be ready to go in the afternoon.
11.00 Last minute shop together. Bought two chickens and two Spanish traditional breads for lunch.

13.15 Sat on concrete floating jetty for our last meal on ‘land’. Martin came over to wish us good rowing. He sat down with us breaking bread and sharing chicken whilst re-discussing the entry to Barbados. Strange to sit here like this and blessed to have a new friend join us for it. And to be talking of the end before we had even set off.

14.00 Ran around saying our farewells and thanks.

15.00 Undid our shoes on the edge of the jetty and pushed off. Where we were off to, there was no space and use for stinky burned out shoes.
 
 

Ships log

January 22, 2004. 

 Atlantic Ocean
 
Day 1
16.23 Kenneth blew the fog horn to start the clocks rolling. Kenneth, Tatiana, and her Ukrainian family were all on the yacht to cheer us off.

Just pre start Scott having previously dated a Russian lady tested his memory of a Russian phrase, not to be often said in the presence of a lady but knowing our struggle to finally be here at ground zero, it was probably only phrase in all the books and in all languages that had the most meaning for the both of us…’papizduvali’. Roughly translated as "lets get the hell out of here".

Tatiana was first stunned and then realised the meaning for us and clapped her hands with applause and waved us off with true delight.

Started rowing from La Gomera
Heading due South

Scott and Brett both rowing together. We had decided to row until we could no longer. Hit muscle failure and then sleep. Reasoning being if we stuck to this our muscles should adapt quicker to the abuse and recovery time would be lessoned. When the body is under extreme pressure it should adapt much more readily than if it is not so stressed.

17:30 Dolphins joined us for 30 min. Kept disappearing then joining us again. It was a welcome from them to us into their liquid world. Still protected by the island so waters are calm and relatively undisturbed. We had done this stretch already so familiar territory.

21:30 Ate Mealie Meal porridge with Frankfurters, Cocido and beans.
Brett fell out of chair and cut finger on tracks. The first injury on water, but not the last.
Scott starting to feel woozy. Probably brought on by a combination of adrenaline, relief, sorrow for not able to see his wife for who know s how long, rich food and the ever strengthening short swell.


23:00 Brett wrote log then slept till 01:00hrs
Scott rowed until 02:30hrs was sick then slept.

 

N27° 47.080’   W017° 12.010’    track 214°
January 23, 2004
Brett got tired and slept till 08:00hrs. Scott got up and rowed. Both Brett and Scott sick. Batteries don’t have enough power to run water maker. Row all day. Cook meal in afternoon. Brett sleeps

16:22     24 hrs after start. 51.6N.M logged
N 27° 27.353’  W 017° 36.513’

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