LOG of SAM DEACON

ROGER'S JOURNAL

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NOV 1ST 1997
Oh! Look! It’s a Shark Outside!!

Beautiful day for a row. Too hot, but a god steady force 2 - 3 from the stern. (Boating term meaning the back).
The desal finally broke this morning.
The solar panels just are not man enough to keep the thing on the go. It says in all the bumph about the desal, it will produce 5 - 5.5 litres per hour. It’s been making 2.5 if we were really lucky. Today the battery was just over half full. Within 10 minutes of the desal going on, the batteries were flat. We’ve taken the step of going manual now. WE managed to make 5.5 litres in the first hour of operation. Everyone else was right. Especially Jeoff Allum who insisted that all electrical systems go “tits up” at sea and just can’t be relied on.

We’re alive though and shall continue on to Barbados resplendent with water in good store.

At 15:40 I was rowing when I saw a large 7 - 8 foot black shadow loom up on to the starboard quarter. (Another boating term: back right hand side). It was a shark that didn’t break the surface, just investigated for 5 minutes and then swam away. I pondered on putting a spinner over the stern to catch it, but then realised IF we landed it on board, we would have it exactly where IT wanted US! Gave that idea a miss!

NOV 2ND 1997
4th Sunday!

Our location - 18 39’ 24 N 24 04’ 09 W
Trick is apparently to lose points from the N and gain to the W!
2076 miles as the crow flies to Port St. Charles and 700 to Los Gigantes. Now it feels as if we’re getting somewhere.
We’re both fitter now than ever so far. We are in a regular routine of 2 hrs on 2 hrs off. Managing to complete at least 25 miles per 12 hours over the last 2 - 3 days.

Wind and waves are being kinder to us now as well. We’re hammering it while we can. Charlie reckoned the other day that if we did 40 miles a day, we’d take till Dec 21st. For every 5 days we do 50 miles a day we knock 1 day off of the 21st. Hopefully we’ll be at the region when all winds and currents pick up speed and head on W within the next 2 - 3 days if not sooner. Then perhaps we can achieve 60 miles a day and lose a day every 2 we manage that 60 mile figure. As we haven’t got close to that 60 mile figure I’m not holding my breath but with the prospect of an earlier re-union with you lot, I’m on a go slow (not really).
We’ve looked at the pilotage of Port St. Charles for our area and discovered we are on route A of A - C marked out for us by Paul Hindmarsh of BCB Int. (only by chance we believe). It looks technically very difficult to complete the last little leg of “dropping off” of the Northern Equatorial Current at just the right time to hit the goal. We’ll try hard though.
Cried to myself today thinking of you, the kids and home. I’m missing you more than I ever thought possible. Wondered how the boys fared at rugby today. Did they go to judo on Friday? How are the finances?
NOV 3RD 1997
Bad night for me. Worse Day Still!

During the night although the weather was kind to us I couldn’t get into my second or third sessions at all. I know Charlie had the same problem during stage 2 because I could hear him cursing at the waves. They weren’t too large by any means. Just coming from three sides at once. Fortunately most were from the stern. It felt like rowing in porridge oats! By the time daylight came, my hips and lower back were playing me up a treat. I had a good poo and that sorted some things out but not everything. Charlie knew I was under stress and decided to change our system of 2 hrs on 2 hrs off and did the next 4 hrs straight himself. When I eventually came to and realised I felt very guilty.
I cooked lunch (sausages & beans: biscuits brown & jam and hot tea/coffee). After that I did what was left of my 2 hrs in clean shorts and no shirt.
No visible sun today and though it’s warm out it is still windy as heck. Not bad enough to stop rowing but difficult to get to grips with.
Can’t seem to stop thinking about home. Really homesick and teary on the whole. Still, working out times for distances covered and those to come, cheers me up. I reckon that we only have about 6 wks left to do. Not bad considering we’ve only done 3 wks (1/3 way done).
My walkman has a duff winder head on one side and plays tapes at about 33x1/3 RPM. Bad news as I was just getting into a routine of listening for half my watch at the oars and thinking for the next half. I haven’t got enough thinking in me for a whole watch!!

NOV 4TH 1997
Good Day on the Whole.....

Rained gently on Charlie at about 06:00. First actual rain we’ve had. Not much. Just enough to close the hatches. Keep on surprising ourselves with how clean we can keep our personal hygiene. We’re washing all over every other day AT LEAST. No bad smells anymore. It’s as if our arms and other areas have decided to give up trying to be smelly.
Sun hid for most of the day but was too hot to do millions of miles per hour. We managed a good few overnight. I was watching the electric light show in the sea again and saw dozens of larger fish surround the boat. They respond well to the torch. Charlie says one flew over the deck in front of his nose!

Morning’s here and with the sun comes a nice breeze.
Not bad.
Not the best though as we NEED an Easterly to blow us further westwards.


NOV 5TH 1997
New way Points Set Today.

Still no sign of any other shipping at all. No radio contact with 3 Com or the fleet. Hips and back only a slight problem.
The silence last night was deafening! Quietest I think I’ve experienced in the Great Outdoors. Nice one Mother Nature!!

We’d both like to speak to 3 Com if only to find out our relative positioning to every one else. I’d like to get a message to Amy about your birthday presents to make certain she hasn’t forgotten. I only had chance to mention it briefly and know she was too busy with other things to have heard me.

I’ve set two new way points today. One where we should go NO further S and the other NO further W. Happy days.

The miles are fading fast and we are still waiting for this now SSW wind to become SW then W to blow us homeward. Soon we hope. Later...
Flying fish patrols 19:00 - 19:30 Loads of them!!
We’ve had to take to drifting again. We need to go WSW. Waves and wind are going big time S. Result = Big waves hitting us broad side when we row W. When we let wind and waves push us on the rear ¼ they push us WSW at 2 ½ KPH! Same speed as rowing but no hard work. Only problem: can’t cook meals or boil water.
2 on - 2 off all night STEERING. Sun’s about to go down.
Its 19:30 British Summer Time. (We’re now an hour behind you).
Our position is now 17 50’ 44 N 26 24’ 19 W.

I start my watch at 20:00 BST. I’ve tidied up the cabin.
We’ve been busy rowing for the last 4 days now and the empties or part empties have mounted up. I’m bringing home some scouring pads for you and lifeboat matches for Sam!! Time to rinse/wash my head & face before my watch.
Hug and look out for the kids please.
Love always Roger xxxx.

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NOV 6TH 1997
Drifting Faster Than We Can Row.

Seas not calm enough to cook or row. We sit and steer 2 hrs about. Very boring indeed!
No stars out last night.
Charlie’s Rohan sun cap with the rear flap got ‘stolen’ by the wind generator. He’d just been cursing it as it hadn’t worked since day 1 and it obviously heard him. Before he could grab it back, it had been flung far out to sea.

Every now and then we THINK about having a go again on the oars but there’s little or no point as we’ll only injure our backs or legs trying to fight the choppy waves. We are covering good ground though doing 36 miles last night alone. At 72 miles a day we could get there before you! However, we shalln’t because the wind has dropped a bit and we are only going along at 2NMPH not the 3.5 of last night.
Small mercies. We’ve had the company of swallows since the first day out. Solitary creatures, normal shape. Black head, brown wings/body and a white ‘V’ across their back.

NOV 7TH 1997
Amazing!

We could not row last night. Although the sea was only going at 2 NMPH we couldn’t row as it was too windy and rough. Wind in the wrong direction for our needs so we had to steer across it all night.
At first light however - different story. As soon as it was my turn on watch it cleared enough for me to row. We did 1 hr rowing and 1 hr steering all of today. Still we’ve only cleared 19.8 miles between 07:00 and 17:00 local time. It’ll mean 40 miles in 24 hrs which is what we MUST do at least to see you at Christmas.

It’s evening now. We’ve had our meal and are washed, cleaned, and ready for 2 hrs about. Charlie is “first on stage” and reports he is ‘flying along’ with little effort. I hope he’s right!! Our efforts for dinner were a bit more co-ordinated today. We both boiled water, one with main meals, the other with dessert. The water goes towards filing the overnight flask, a luxury we’ve not enjoyed for the last 2 nights. In fact today we had our first hot drink for 3 days and hot food too. Yummy!!

Some days, although it seems quite calm, we can’t cook as the pots get overturned by small fiddling waves. They seem to cope better with the big rolling waves. Most usually they are around 20’ high. It’s the smaller ones that cause the problems, anything up to 10’.

This morning we found a small dead flying fish in the footwell. We’d seen a shoal of them yesterday doing a fly past of the Sam Deacon. Spectacular to see. We could hear them landing all night but didn’t know any had landed ON us. Today has been a day of more and more fish jumping up to see us. They seem to squeeze themselves out of the water and fly 10 - 20’ before landing sideways on, back in the water.
I’ve been doing a bit of thinking about us and have realised that without you all it would be pointless to carry on.
Thanks, I love you!
Roger xxxxx.

NOV 10TH 1997 19:00 BST
We’ve had a lot to contend with over the last few days hence no writings.

Weather has changed in our favour 2 days ago. We drifted through Saturday night for about 35 miles in the 12 hrs. That’s more than we managed to row some days in 24 hrs!! Our system has become very adaptable. We still do 2 on, 2 off BUT if the sea is rowable alone, at night, we do just that. If not, then we simply steer the thing. Daytime, different matter. We row alone no matter what while the other steers - 1 hr about all the time. Short break at about 13:00 for meal, (usually cold) too choppy to waste time cooking. 17:00, cook evening meal while one steers. We can make 3 MPH for the eating hour. Over 10 day period that’s half a day’s rowing saved.
This morning we had a large wave creep up over the cabin from behind and swamp me. I was sleeping and woke soaked - all at once.

Last evening, a month afloat, I was really excited to see the Westerly wind at last. It pushed us so fast I could not contain my joy. It raced us along at 3 KPH. Faster than rowing. We experimented with facts and theories. We’ve found, of all the permutations available, that steering 2 on 2 off works best, although one steering one rowing makes most ground. It was totally impractical to try rowing and steering all night and then repeat it all day today. Tried combinations as well, like 1 hr rowing 1 hr steering 1 hr sleeping. Didn’t work. Got too tired - too quick.
Made almost 60 miles in the last 24 hrs as we had hoped. Today we made even more. We’ve covered just short of 1 degree W in 24 hrs and that seems to be our daily goal. 30 degrees left to get to Barbados - winds and waves willing.

We’ve seen large ( 3 - 4’) fish with us all day today. No thoughts of fishing though, just getting the job done now.
Can’t wait to hold you all again.
Love Dad xxxxx.

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NOV 11TH 1997 Tuesday
Drifting along at 2 knots and not having to row is all very well but so, so tedious.

We’ve cut out the 1 hr about row/steer during the day as we’ve discovered we cover as much ground not rowing as we do when we actually row! Explanations please on a postcard to ....We think that while one rows the other is trying to compensate for wind, waves and the uneven pull on left/right oars thereby steering a weaving path instead of a true course. Therefore we cover more ground steering/rowing BUT not always in the correct direction. Makes sense? We believe it.

Currently 48 miles a day at least will do us just fine. Indeed yesterday in 24 hours we did 58 again. By this rate it COULD BE Barbados by Dec 11th!
Cooking no longer difficult as we seem to remain fairly stable in a straight line. Good news indeed.
We had that large fish try to mate with our rudder all night long. Every now and then, as if to demonstrate male prowess, it swam alongside and jumped a good 6’ out of the sea, then rejoined the rudder as if to say “How about that then?” We don’t know what type it is and have called it simply “Eric”. He’d given up though by daylight. We haven’t seen him all day long.
Charlie and I have had several discussions about our attitudes to this event and of our expectations on return. I am under no illusions that we’ll be brushed aside by the ‘Mighty Met Machine’. Charlie still believes that “They” will recognise our attempts and honour us in some way. Perhaps a cup of tea?

The desal unit has been reset to the 12 Volt system and is working, albeit slowly. 10 litres in 5 hours, not the 5.5 in 1 hour as claimed. No airlocks present. Fixed to the boat at or below water level etc: Still too slow. When pumped manually 5 litres an hour is no problem at all. Just makes your arms/shoulders sore though. We use up more water than we make while pumping!!

Small mercies again.
I’ve discussed the Lake District and Dartmoor with Charlie and have promised myself that a base tent is a good idea. Perhaps we’ll get a decent People Carrier and ‘do England’.
Cabin just got hit by another 30 footer - must go and dry our kit out - again!!

19:00 I heard my Dad calling out “Artful Dodger!” As plain as could be. What does it mean I wonder? Anything....


NOV 12TH 1997
Yesterday finished well with our big fish returning plus four others, slightly smaller; 2 -3’. They have blue backs, Eric yellow.

The night didn’t bring the promised mileage. We clocked up a fair few though and by the time evening had come we’d managed to ALMOST do the elusive 1 degree in 24 hrs. (54 miles).
This afternoon after spending the morning just steering 2 hrs about, we decided to row/steer as a pair. Charlie managed his rowing easily. I could not complete 1 hour without almost fainting. I was too dehydrated - AGAIN!
Having eaten at 6pm, feeling refreshed, I set out to put affairs in order. There was a sudden squall at 18:20 which settled the sea down. The waves subsided and I sat at the oars feeling good. In the next hour I did almost 5 miles. We’ve been doing 3 on a good day. Conditions were all in my favour though including the rudder being set centrally and not being waggled by my partner.
It’s evening now 19:20 local time. Charlie is at the oars until 21:00.

Of courage:- During the night when alone at the helm, you can hear the sounds of distant trains rattling your way. They get so bad you can’t hear anything else. Then out of the half light, you can see a white crested tower block, looming above you. It has taken all of our courage to ignore these sights. Panic was never far away to begin with. Now the Sam Deacon rises over them with a grace and serenity which I suppose only one of HIS slight, frail build can.
I often think of Sam Deacon, the boy. And, although I never knew him personally, feel I somehow have known him through this boat. Despite HIS slight build, he never gave up his fight. Neither shall we!

The other night (Sunday) our fourth week anniversary, there was a hell of a squall followed by a good high spirited storm. Charlie was safe in the cabin. I was on watch. I have always had company in difficult situations before. This night I was alone. The stars suddenly became obliterated by a HUGE wall of water. During the next two hours we surfed on the crest of five waves! We covered enormous miles without rowing a stroke!
I tested myself that night and, thankfully, I passed my own test of courage.
I have discovered the best/only way to steer Sam is to stand at the bow, face aft holding a tiller rope in each hand for comfort and balance and tough it out. I can see waves crashing in, even in the dark. I can see stars, when they are out, to steer by. I can balance my body and the boat. It is truly exhilarating. In dark hours I am always wearing my life jacket and my safety belt now. During the day? That’s another story.

My music machine has packed up playing in both directions. Plays one side, not the other. Of the 2 gaz stoves, they both need a good servicing. They only light when held upside down! Not very reassuring. Gas and food all going well, loads of both left.
Thoughts of home are always with me.
Remember me to the kids please.
Love again Roger xxxxx.

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NOV 13TH 1997
Going Places - Doing Nothing!

Today started with promise. We rowed some of the night. Suddenly, up came the waves and attacked on 2 sides. Couldn’t compete so followed the Westerly ones and clocked up a lot of distance again. We have covered (almost) that elusive 1 degree W today. We’ve done over the 54 miles needed but some has been going S of W so, we can’t call it 1 degree W technically speaking. However , it is a moral victory. We reckon at this rate of travel we can get to P. St. Charles by 12th Dec 1997.
Each day, while one steers for 2 hrs the other looks longingly at the oars knowing that getting them wet will only slow down the progress. You have to alter course so much to account for the rowers uneven pull on the oars that you are penalised for doing it the “right way”. It is our honest conclusion that no-one has ever, ROWED the Atlantic. Everyone has had to drift or sleep at some stage so we don’t feel bad about it anymore, just disillusioned a little.
Currents and winds in our favour show we have done it the right way. The poor sods that have gone straight over are making it hard for themselves in the extreme.
We wonder cynically whether the first boats will all have super structures on or will some be honest to goodness boats like ours? Maybe we were naive after St. Katherine’s Dock to take our oar racks down. It was truly a primitive and ‘Heath Robinson’ affair compared to some other elaborate devices we’ve seen. You can certainly “dry some sleeping bags “ on some of them.
Anyway Chris, as you keep reminding me, nothing THEY have can stop ME getting to the end now. We know we’re going to do it.
See you later I’m on watch now.
Roger xxxxx.
P.S. 04:10 today a school of dolphins visited us for 10 minutes checking us out. BRILLIANT DISPLAY! They concluded with one doing a slow leap in the air - then, off they went!

NOV 14TH 1997
Still Drifting - Sometimes Rowing

Arose at my now usual 10:00 to begin breakfast. No change in weather overnight re-wind. However, it is hissing with rain and Charlie is toughing it out. ( See photos in purple buffalos, Ron Hills and tropical hats.) “Just a squall !” He shouts. 20 minutes later he’s drowning. “Long old squall!” I retort. “Fancy breakfast?” As I get out pots and stove, it stopped raining and we settle down to sausage, beans and bacon. Charlie has a gift. He can eat food before it is allowed to settle in his hand. How? I don’t know. Give it to him and it’s gone already. He could ‘ eat for England’!
Mileage was going so well yesterday that today’s 2 mph seems to drag. “Fancy trying to row?” I say. “Yes” says he, and off he went. We intend an hour each if conditions were good. Charlie did ½ hour in good form but then the sea attacked from 3 sides again and away go the oars again.
I have just had an afternoon nap for 40 minutes. Having awoken, Charlie is pleased to report we have 2 miles in 45 minutes again. Something is looking up again. Funny thing. I can tell times of day now without reference to my watch. I know when my 2 hrs rowing/resting is complete. And amazingly enough I know each day when it is around 15:20. I start thinking about you and the children coming out of school. I hope they have a special time when they think of me now and then everyday. I think of you especially though at about 23:00 each day when you’re probably in bed or on your way to it.

NOV 16TH 1997
Dreams! What Does It All Mean?

Yesterday, we had a busy old time and hence no murmurs of the pen. However, I just remembered. Last Sunday evening, the evening of our first month, we toasted the night with one of those lovely miniatures you brought us. Charlie had a scotch and I had a Southern Comfort with X-tra in both. Charlotte is correct. X-tra makes spirits very acceptable to the palette.
We’ve still had no contact with the great world outside. Closest we’ve been in the last 2 ½ weeks came yesterday afternoon at 15:40. Charlie was resting, I was rowing. Suddenly, looking up to scan the horizon I saw a very large cargo ship approaching from our port beam (back left). It looked as if it was attacking us at a hell of a speed. I woke Charlie and got him to use the radio to warn of our position. He did, but we got no answer. Some 20 minutes later the cargo ship, Land Angel passed about ½ mile behind us, heading N. We were drifting W at our now customary 2nmph. We saw no sign of life on board her, and still got no response from the radio. We HAD been scanning horizons at 30 minute intervals believing that would be adequate time for us to respond to a collision. However, we’ve cut it down to 15 minutes now to be on the safe side.
Checked charts yesterday and decided we can now approach from further N and get in from there. Currents seem favourable there as well as the S end. We can make it a whole day earlier IF we get it right. It also shows the currents picking up from ½ nm here to 0.7 nm closer to the West Indies, so we should improve on our now regular days of 54 - 56 miles. Sooner sounds better to me!
Both Charlie and I have decided we’d both forgotten to buy Christmas presents for you both.... How unusual. Charlie assures me that Bridgetown is a wonderful place to shop. I’d really like to get you a ring again. Whatever.

We observed a 2 minutes silence at 11:00 BST as we missed the 11:00 GMT. Tradition and respect.
Dorado’s are still here. Each time we get blown off course they swim out from under the boat, look up, and swim back under again, as if to say “Oh! It’s him again. That explains it all” Charlie scalded his leg a couple of days ago and after treatment, it healed up nicely. We dangled his leg in the sea and a huge dorado, 4’ - 5’ long, came out to see what we were up to. It nestled up about 3” from his leg but Charlie didn’t even see it!
I still can’t stop thinking about you all and what we’re going to do when I get home. The walking, going out together, shopping, meals and stuff. I miss it all so very much. See you all soon I hope.

Love you all. Roger xxxxx.

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NOV 17TH 1997

Sea is moderate, wind force 4 - 6 SW and we’re heading W.
It’s hard concentrating on keeping us W. Each time I check the compass it reads just to the S of W. We’ll have to be more precise in a couple of weeks when we get closer to our destination. We checked the pilotage charts again yesterday and discovered that the currents/winds blow either end of Barbados from about 108 miles out so, we intend to do the Northern approach as we are already more or less in line with it. We have to go round the N side of a buoy at P. St. Charles anyhow, so why not be there in the first place?

Our position at present is at 12:07 hrs 14 02’ 43 N 35 37’ 55 W.
We only have to drop about 1 degree N to hit Barbados dead centre we think. Currently south is no problem to us. Still chasing 1 degree W in a single day. We did 58.7 miles last night so we qualify, but we never made the 1 degree W mark!
Other things...My hands are falling apart now through lack of rowing. Charlie’s are the same. Dorado still here in abundance. Several flying fish have been found dead on board, all tiddlers. Last night 2 reasonably sized flying fish landed on board, but as we have food in plenty, we threw them back.

Really having problems thinking of you and the kids. Love you all so much it hurts!
We believe 15th Dec. is a conservative guesstimate at our arrival. He reckons about 06:15. In case we get in that early we hope the Challenge’d’ Business contact you to come out and welcome us. Perhaps you’ll have a boat hired or something.

Regret? Still regretting missing out on your birthday card/presents. Never really seemed important before. However this year it feels like the ONLY IMPORTANT event. Sorry hardly covers it. Hopes things are going well at home.
Love to you - Roger Daddy xxxxx.

NOV 18TH 1997
Good night.

Several thunder and lightening storms all night. Very high seas and winds, force 10 - 12 at least.
No sleep. Bad back pains. Charlie stayed out on deck for 6 hrs! We took it in turns to steer and cheer! BRILLIANT NIGHT that frightened us both witless...Covered 50 + miles!
Thought of St. Augustine’s at Whitton. Must do a speech on return. Lots to say. Back later. Weather - dry now but very windy. Outlook - rain/wind. No sleep!
Later.
Rained loads later after initial report. At 6:00 as I took over from Charlie, it gusted to force 12 with the worse winds/rains/waves so far. Boat was brilliant. First time drogues were out in a month. We left them out for stability for 15 minutes then braved all and I took them in.... I got hold of Sam’s rudder ropes and off we shot. Great feeling - fleeing before a gale force wind. Did good miles. Why haven’t we done this before? Surfing – albeit incorrectly, is brilliant! Such exhilaration.

Tried the ESP to call you at 23:00 tonight. I had tried also at 11:00 just repeating “Christina I miss you. We’re OK. Having Fun. Love to you and hug the kids”. Over and over again. Perhaps you got it. Who knows.
Love Roger xxxxx.

NOV 19TH 1997
Good Miles. Deep Meaningful Thoughts of Home.

High seas again. Good tail winds. Our position first thing, having done 57 miles yesterday, is 13 51’ 59 N 37 04’ 35 W
We’ll plot it all as and when we get time together at home.
Cried this afternoon at school kicking out time. I want to hold you all safe in my big arms again. Tell them I love them and then how proud I am of all their achievements - Amy’s athletics, Ben’s all round sporting ability, Sam’s ability to create things so perfectly and of course his enthusiasm for sport (especially his performance at the last judo grading) and last but not least, Nicola’s ability to smile and chat while running the legs off her old dad in Crane Park and her wonderful swimming. Well done to you all. As for you. Your unending love and devotion you show for us all, despite our minor transgressions - however major they may have been. You never fail to amaze me with your capacity to love and understand us all so very well.

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NOV 20TH 1997
Long - cloudy - hot - moderately windy day.

Sea good enough to row at times but time would be best saved for another day when we desperately need to row - rather than do an extra ½ nmph now. Only 25 days to go now we estimate. Time passes more easily now we realise we’re not out here much longer. We can relate to 2/3 of the time completed. I am running a calendar on the wall of the cabin with 25 days left on it. Got to boil water for overnight flasks now.

Later Roger xxxxx.
P. S. Made up to Charlie last night by me doing first 6 hours of the night shift. He was totally worn out and unable to wake up properly. I don’t feel so bad about my own ability now!

NOV 22ND 1997
Minor Drama With a Lack of Winds!

Oh dear! Yesterday morning everything stopped happening. Wind dropped completely and the current seemed non-existent. We got the oars out and made them wet for 1hr about, from 09:00 - 19:00. We’d been drifting 2nmph and were now making 3nmph. We felt good for 2 reasons:-
1. rowing again
2. making more ground homeward.

Overnight winds picked up again until 09:00 today when we wouldn’t have been able to get an oar OUT let >alone into the water! It’s now 12:45 and our position is 13 47 38 N 39 31’ 40 W. Real good progress. We’re back to 3nmph NOT rowing. That’ll do. Still counting down days until I see you all again.
Yesterday I hit a real low spot. Tears about Dad never telling me he loved me. I’m going to tell him I love him and Mum when I get to the other end of this and I’m going to hug them both! So there.
We’ve just seen our first dolphins again for weeks. Jumping and playing near the stern of the Sam Deacon. Good sign we hope.
Trying to cook dinner I burnt the ball of my left foot and left big toe on the stove by putting my foot ON IT!?* In my haste to rectify the problem, I spilled the boiling water I was holding over my right ankle! Fortunately lots of cold running water is always near by. Flamazene works very well on scalds. I let the burn sort itself out as it’s on a bit of tough skin.
So to bed with thoughts of what you’re all doing. I miss you all
Roger xxxxx.

NOV 23RD 1997
Happy Birthday to Chris!

Blast! Weather not the nicest we’ve had but brilliant for covering distance. Back to 5nmph in a 2hr period. Good progress. Lots of very high waves pushing us on and soaking the decks. They’re crashing over the cabin every 5 minutes or so. Despite all this I feel lousy at not having arranged anything for your birthday. I’ve been calling out to any shipping all day to phone home reversing the charges to say “Happy birthday”. No replies constantly. I am thinking TO you all day. I hope you’re getting some of it.
Of which I had very strong images of Amy sleeping well last night. I gave her a call and hugged her tight.
Hope all is well love Roger xxxxx.

NOV 24TH 1997
Guess Who’s in the Sea Again?!

Today began with a bit of a jolt for me. If any of the kids or you woke with a start at 07:00 BST thinking I was in serious trouble - you were right! Playing the walkman on deck to while away the small hours is a past time. Sometimes though it’s a painful experience. This time, the player/recorder heads were furred up again so I was sitting down, rudder lines in one hand, other hand in the Buffalo pocket changing the tape and using my finger to clean the recording head with. Not much grip underfoot. Suddenly a small wave from my left set the boat all of a wobble and I lost my footing. Balanced on only my right buttock, the next wave to arrive from the same side almost tipped us up. It managed to throw me out of the boat. Fortunately I always wear my life jacket and am secured by a safety line to the boat. However, wearing buffalo top and salopettes, I was heavier than before. Wind was blowing boat on top of me and I was experiencing trouble getting aboard. Charlie was singing to Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb, which is how I felt. I settled in to drag alongside until he came out for his shift. As it got colder, Charlie awoke to my shouts of “Oh Shit!” Then as if by magic, four pairs of children’s hands reached down, grabbed my arms and my clothing and pulled me out so hard it hurt! Thanks kids. I’m recovering now with a mug of hot tea and ‘biscuits - fruit’. More of today in a while. I’m having a rest now.
Roger xxxxx.
Having come further W, sunset tonight was at 21:15 as opposed to 20:42 last night. Suppose the clocks go back ANOTHER HOUR SOON?
Recovered from my watery dice now I think and covered some brilliantly quick 15 minute miles in the latter afternoon. Remainder of the day went well after I’d taken a few hours to get over the shock of my dip! Seas were very high again but the boat handles a dream! 22:00 and my turn to go on deck.

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NOV 25TH 1997
Nice Day at the Office Dear? Yes. Not bad at all.

Last night we got swamped from behind by a monstrously huge wave. It almost came into the front door of the cabin and almost drowned me. I was off watch asleep with my head near the door when I heard a noise not unlike so many other waves - like a roaring train! The cabin door is always a jar to let some air in. This time though there was a crash on the roof. Charlie shouted “ Very interesting indeed Guv’nor!!” And I couldn’t breathe. My ears, nose and mouth were all full of salt water. It woke me up a bit, and I emerged, bedraggled asking “ All quiet then mate?” Charlie could only sit there soaking wet saying “Sorry Rog! Interesting that one!” Today has been good to average. First off we still had the high winds of night time and were doing 5nmph. Good. After 11:00 though, they dropped and we’re doing 4nmph. Boring but very consistent. 48 miles per day would mean Barbados on the 15th Dec. for sure. Any more - a bonus!
Still missing you all but am finding it a little easier to be not so teary about it all. Instead I talk to the children individually at about 2:45pm to 3:30pm daily. I chose 3pm to tell you that I love you today. It’s now 20:15 and I’m giving it another shot. “I love you and miss you”. Can’t wait till I get to you in the hot Caribbean.
GPS got swamped by the big wave last night and went AWOL today! We got the little one out and fired it up. Thank God we have 3 altogether. The trailblazer awoke again after some fiddling with the battery box and connections. Phew!!
Speak again tomorrow.
Our location now is 13 38’ 54 N 42 16’ 27 W.
Barbados is 13 10’ 05 N 59 38’ 11 W
We make 1 degree W every 30 hours ( just under 30) 14 - 15 days left then. “Hurray indeed sir!”
Love Roger xxxxx Daddy xxxxx.

NOV 27TH 1997
Charlie’s Turn to Get Damp!

Yesterday was another good day. So good we kept steering all day and had no time to write anything. Made 48 miles + !
Charlie went into the cabin yesterday and, discovering it to be very hot, opened the rear hatch. Following sea, big wind, not the best idea. I said I’d let him know if anything “big” loomed up. After a couple of false alarms - we relaxed. Just enough for a SMALL wave to dump 8 gallons through the hatch and flood the cabin. Everything got soaked. I laughed so much I almost fell overboard again!
Quiet night. Miss you loads and need your hugs.
Love as always Roger xxxxx.

NOV 28TH 1997
Nice Weather for the Time of Year Old Chap.

Glorious day, weather wise. 105 F on deck, 90+ F in the cabin! Not so good with a following sea and stiff breeze to boot.
Couldn’t manage many miles because sea was a little too passive and wind a bit to slight.

Small mercies again. We’re able to cook more easily and boil water for a flask tonight. Simple things have become more relevant than complex issues.
Gave ourselves a shock earlier on when I opened all the under floor storage areas in the cabin only to find the big wave of yesterday has swamped tinned ‘rat packs’ and ALL my spare clothes. Some are already too full of mildew to be saved so I’ve had to ditch loads of them in the sea. M & S in Bridgetown are getting a visit from me first free day.
We eventually swabbed out all the excess water and are relatively happy with our lot again. Evening is here and, as always of late, I reflect on family issues. Are they happy? Going to Judo? Fed and clothed etc; miss and love you all.
Looks like an overcast night after all! Grey on the horizon!!
Love to you all Roger xxxxx.

NOV 29TH 1997
Charlie’s Pain in the Bum!

He’s got what looks like a boil on his left cheek. Not ready to burst but not a pretty sight either. During the night of 27th we saw a large ship going against the wind/waves E. It passed some 2 miles to our N. Again no answer on the radio. Last night at 03:20 I saw a white signal flare go up about 5 miles to our S. As our radio was u/s due to flat batteries, I couldn’t even ask why. We presume another small boat, perhaps one of ours slightly further S had spied a larger ship (out of our horizon) and was trying to get its attention.
Back to our current situation. I’m going to see what skin preparations we have to draw out his boil. (We have no zinc and caster oil).
The GPS is telling us to head 288 - 289 degrees. To us that is N of Barbados. We are already high enough N of the equator to miss it, so we’re ignoring it a bit and heading W and just S of W to bring our Northings down. Current lats/longs at 12:44 13 43’ 35 N 45 05’ 08 W
Bad progress in the night - No wind. We rowed again. Most of the time since 12:00 we’ve rowed 2 hrs about today because wind, waves and current slowed to a trickle. Most worrying. Overnight the mileage suffered and we calculate that if things don’t pick up it’ll be flaming Christmas before we get there. Still with only 2 weeks left in theory, we’re willing to row our little hearts out to get to you all!!
Charlie’s boil has been dressed now with a pretty little pad and a messy squadge of micropore holding it all together. Antibiotics if it hasn’t started clearing up by Sunday night...Rowing - we found is easier from the forward position rather than the aft. The gearing of oars seems much easier/lighter to get on with both power and steering.

Still no sign of other competitors converging on our area or us on theirs. Has the final race finish line been switched again we ask? No radio contact with anyone, any day except for the first night when Peter Hayning had to withdraw. (Still don’t understand why).
Love and miss you all heaps. Roger, your Daddy xxxxx.

NOV 30TH 1997
The Wind Has Returned with Enthusiasm!

We managed to recovered some lost miles by rowing yesterday and during the beautifully starlight night.
Reminds me - beautiful things. You of course - but during the afternoon yesterday we saw a puffer fish fully inflated and floating on the waves looking at the boat. As it drifted past, it expelled a jet of water and submerged again. It came back at lunchtime today for another look. There seems to be a sail on the horizon behind us. It’s been there for about a week. Got no closer - yet no further away. We know some of the other competitors have support boats. Maybe it’s one of them? No answer on radio! Time will tell of course and then I could be imagining the sail!
Charles’ bum is happier today. He claims it to be ‘settling down’ again, I hope so.
We are back to our 4 miles every 2 hrs of drifting so are much happier all round. 15th looks back on again or at least the early morning (09:00) of 16th - Tuesday. We’ll see. Perhaps as we get closer conditions may change more in our favour. The current is due to pick up a little and maybe we can row a bit more too in the last few days to make up the <05><05><05>mileage. Who knows!
More flying fish today, spotted everywhere. We woke to find about 20 small ones all over the boat. Must be depressing. “Lean to the front. Trust me children. As the waves breaks, push hard and - there we are. Up in the air. Now. Just land in the water again”. And there’s this tiny boat in the way. And the water is all dried up. What a bugger, “Sorry Stanley” comes to mind, or was it “Hard luck Stanley”.
Going to cook Sunday dinner now. See you all later.
Lots of love and hugs. Roger xxxxx. Daddy xxxxx.

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