Royal marine John Bryant with "kids" ...

The following questions were posed by the Royal Marines Corps Public Relations organization and answered on the 30 October 1997:

Q How are you feeling?
A Very tired

Q So far, what has been the hardest part?
A Getting up every 2 hours and rowing day and night

Q Have there been other (unforeseen difficulties?
A Sore bottoms

Q What are the sleeping conditions like?
A In rough sea not good as thrown around cabin, not long enough to rest

Q What (and how) are you eating on a daily basis?
A Taking 1 hour each for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Q Do you manage to get much sleep?
A 2 hours rowing and 2 hours sleeping at a time

Q How much water do you consume?
A 15 to 20 litres

Q Have you seen any other boats (or anything else!)?
A Not since the Norwegians on day 2

Q How are you getting on with each other (any disagreements)?
A No

Q How difficult has cooking been?
A Boring but take it in turns

Q Have there been any funny moments?
A No

Q Are you glad you are out there?
A No,can't understand whatever possessed us to want to do this

Q Do you miss/not miss anything?
A From John - My wife boys, bed, food, toilet
A From Steve My other half and my children

Q Describe your daily routine.
A 2 Hours rowing, 2 hours sleeping, 1 hour break for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Q Were your preparations adequate?
A No everything last minute and would do many things differently.

Q How long does each person row for each day?
A 2 hours rowing and 2 hours sleeping

Q How is the boat and equipment holding out?
A Boat is good getting lighter, stood up well for first few days in poor conditions with waves crashing over boat

Q How bad/good has the weather been?
A Need bigger N.E. winds to blow us along, looking forward to getting into trade winds

Q Describe your feelings at the start/send off - lonely? excited? apprehensive?
A Relief, sad, very homesick for first few days

Q What were the final days in Tenerife like?
A Stressful, no time for proper good bye to our girls, big regret, last days nightmare in fact, tired before even started