GETTING CLOSER TO CHRISTMAS DINNER

Dec 11 2003

The race is on for two Atlantic adventurers to finish their ocean challenge before Christmas.

But Faye Langham and Andy Giles look to have missed out on the mixed-sex crew record of 53 days to row the ocean.

The duo, who work at Cottam Power Station, are racing in the Atlantic Rowing Challenge - dubbed the toughest rowing race in the world.

Now they are aiming to complete the gruelling 3,000-mile marathon from the Canary Islands to Barbados in time to enjoy Christmas dinner with their families.

And food is never far from their thoughts, according to their latest dispatches from the ocean.

Faye, 24, from Newark, who is the only female competitor, said they were so fed up with porridge for breakfast they now start the day with Angel Delight.

She added: "Dinner consists of Andy cooking up a big pot during my evening rowing shift which we tuck into throughout the night.

"This is either pasta, noodles, rice, smash or occasionally couscous or dumplings along with rehydrated meat [ham, lamb, chicken, bacon or prawns] and a selection of veg with a sauce."

The pair's boat - called Bluebell - remains in good condition after more than 50 days of tackling the ocean.

The pair are ninth out of the 16 teams taking part in the challenge.

The leading boat - Holiday Shoppe Challenge - finished in a record time of 40 days, four hours and 31 minutes.

Back on the ocean, aboard the Bluebell, Faye's thoughts have already turned to home.

"With only just over three weeks to go I have started dreaming of all the luxuries we haven't got out here... nice fluffy pillows, showers, crusty bread and cheese, Chinese takeaway and non- salted clothes!"

But they still have some challenges to overcome before they finish - such as flying fish hurling themselves into the boat.

In a recent log entry, Faye said: "Today's flying fish toll is 62.

"We were being hit left, right and centre through the night. I was hit twice on the head.

"The Barbadian crew showed me how to fillet flying fish in La Gomera and with 62 I'm sure we could have a feast.

"However, they don't look too appetising and when they're generally only three inches long, that is a lot of very fiddly filleting!"