Google™ powered

of our site & WWW

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

 

Graham WALTERS. "Puffin"
News from the route

Via Sat Phone to ORS (Int.) HQ
 
May 13 2007
20.55 GMT
Graham called ORS (Int) and said:
''I have just landed on shore, I rowed from San Sebastian La Gomera to here without assistance and land to land.
I will now take a tow to  main port [Gustavia] and deal with formalities.

Speak to tomorrow
 
16:30GMT


William Garnier of Cornwall telephoned to tell that he was on board power catamaran ''Garfield Fun Cat'. He explained he first met Graham in La Gomera more than 100 days ago.
In that time William sailed his 24 foot sailing boat to St Maarten, and following Graham's progress on the Internet, decided to meet his old friend by dashing out from St Maarten to St Barts together with Captain Bruce Hancocks, skipper of ''Garfield Fun Cat''.
He reported that Graham has not stopped talking since they rendezvoused with him and Graham is determined to row to the shore of the Bay of St Jean  to then claim an unassisted row Land to Land in the smallest ocean rowboat.

The ''Fun Cat'' is proceeding to shore and intends to take up a position to photograph and film Puffin's actual arrival expected within the hour.
William said 'Graham looks very tanned, a lot thinner and the boat is obviously much lighter now and is riding high in the water.
 

May 12 2007
14.45pm Via Sat phone to Lynda McClane (Tenerife)


I cannot make it to Barbuda.
I am exhausted; I tried hard to get to Barbuda, I was close. I am now in between islands, I do not have proper charts. I am now headed for St Maarten, if I miss that I will go to Anguilla.

My skin has broken out in a nervous rash, it happened the same way at the end of my last row. I think it is some kind of nervous rash.

I will be coming to Tenerife to get my money back - I expect to get about 3000 Euros. 

May 10 2007
8.00pm

Everything OK. I am trying to row a straight course, current is still running N.W. I think I can make Barbuda. I reckon I could be there for Saturday if I am lucky with the wind.
May 7 2007
8.00pm

The wind went round on me, I have 3/4 knot current taking me away from Antigua, it is taking me up.
I am still rowing. If I can not get Trades Winds again and very soon, I won't make it to Antigua. I can not believe it.
On Wednesday night at the latest I will have to make a big decision, if I am no closer to Antigua I will try for Barbuda. I have food and supplies enough so no problem there.
May 4 2007
1.45pm

All is OK, I have 10 knots wind, the leak under the floor is still there but only about 1/2 a gallon a day is coming through. I can live with that as long as it gets no worse.
.
Today I was under the boat. I lost my mates pilot fish, they have been with me for ten weeks, now all of a sudden they have all gone.

I have supplies for a week, it is not the best stuff but I will be OK. I found some chocolate - great stuff!

Congratulations to Jan [Meek] getting to the Pole, I look forward to seeing her at the Black Tie Dinner
Apr 25 2007
8.10pm

I am back on course, the wind has dropped and I am now rowing in the right direction again. I have a slight leak under the keel taking on about 1/2 a gallon a day, so not much of a problem there. I swam under the boat yesterday to check the bottom and since then I am deaf in one ear, its not painful or anything.
I won't arrive for Antigua Week but I do think I will be at the Black Tie Dinner and I am looking forward to seeing everyone there.
Apr 08 2007
8.25pm

Graham was told about a TV program being made in UK , which asks the question '"Where were you when England won the World Cup in 1966?'' The program has done a piece about Johnstone and Hoare of Puffin, who 2 days after the 1966 World Cup saw a ship and the first question they asked was 'how did we do in the World Cup?'
Graham said 'I saw the match on telly in Leister, I was with my best mate - we were each others Best Man at our weddings. I remember the match well, I was very nervous when the Germans scored at the end of normal time and equalized, the game went into extra time. when England won  my mate and I celebrated like everyone else in the country. I remember that day well, I will never forget it.

He then said "Everything is going well on Puffin, everything is just perfect but only one thing - I have a leak in the water maker and need to fix it. I'll have a look at it tomorrow, but I am not worried - I have plenty of drinking water ballast to last the trip anyway. I just moved 6 gallons into aft cabin to bring the bow up a bit, I am happy with the weight distribution right now, she is no longer going beam on. I will stay at this weight for the rest of the trip. I am feeling really good, definitely really good.
Mar 19 2007
8.00pm

I am being knockabout, it is real stormy lately, and there is no sun. 38 miles made today, not too bad. I have to pump out water regularly, hopefully I have not sprung a leak, will have to go over the side soon and check it out. I am still reading the book everyday, it is very interesting to read how Johnstone and Hoare coped. My spirits are really high, right now especially as I am coming up to half way
Mar 12 2007
8.15pm

Boat is alright, I have done quite a few repairs, including the solo panel rig - I have been hit by some heavy seas lately. I am getting some good rowing in now. In a weeks time I will start going South, right now I am trying to pinch a bit West. Don’t worry, I will get to Antigua.
Mar 4 2007
8.00pm
Puffin was tracking a lot better lately and I am pleased with my progress so far, though sometimes have to use a small drogué.  Getting used to be always wet :) I could not understand how Johnstone and Hoare managed to eat and stay dry, I was eating and nearly always getting wet, then I read in their book that they ate under the spray cover. I tried doing the same thing and it is great improvement... I am reading the book every day, and I am finding it very interesting.
Mar 2 2007
Late afternoon
Today Tiny Little received a call from Graham. Graham said that he feels all right, no problems with the health,  he is quite happy with the progress, and in general everything is going well
Tiny said that they had a very good chat
Feb 24 2007
8.00pm
High seas; big waves - six meters, - are throwing the boat. It slows the progress down, very difficult to row. Cannot cook; everything is wet, no sunshine. Waiting for weather to get better, come a bright day and I will sort it out, hopefully... But not to worry, apart from the weather it's not too bad.
Feb 18 2007
7.00pm
I am OK. I have had 3 days of bad weather; the good news is that it is pushing me along. I have had a drogue out all the time, its a bit wet and miserable. I lost my breakfast to a wave again this morning. I get a bit of control with a small drogue, this way I don't get quite so much water onto the deck. My spirits are ok, the 'Puffin' is standing up well, I am learning more about her every day.
Feb 8 2007

 9.00am
I had a good row last night, winds 10 knots Northerly.
She's still going beam on, but I think that may be because I am so heavy. I have food for 4 months, much of it stored toward the bow. I am hoping the trim will get better as I eat my way through the food.
Feb 7 2007
10.00am
I still have 2 broken pumps, the drogues are out, its just not bringing the boat around, I can not get it off the beam.
I could do with sawing a bit off the rudder, but I forgot my saw. Oh well, I'll just have to carry on, I hope the weather changes soon.

 
8.00pm
I fixed both of the pumps, bailed out the lockers that were flooded. Lost some food, but not too much.
I patched the leaking deck and I am pleased that a good day’s work got things sorted out.

Still have not solved this ’beam-on business’.
I am making a dodger to stop the sea breaking onto the deck all the time.
The boat is really very heavy and maybe will get better once she is a bit lighter.

(Note from KFC: when I spoke to Graham at 10am he sounded the most stressed I have ever heard him; tonight he was his normal confident self)
Feb 6 2007

10.00am
"From 3.00pm yesterday I have been on sea anchor. There are big waves that have swamped Puffin.
I was annoyed this morning - while I was having my breakfast a big wave came and took it away.
I have 80 meters of line out. Don't worry I will carry on, this wind must change sometime soon".

9.00pm
'"I am taking a beating. I am beam on at the moment, my bilge pump has packed up and the electric pump has packed up as well. Deck is leaking. I've got to sort it all out, as soon as it is calm I will do some repairs".