Two and a half months of meetings, hoop jumping, lots of yeses, lots of excitement, a car bought, an apartment rented for me and then an overnight flip turn on the decision to title sponsor.
More on this in my next blog.
The upshot is that building a new boat design for a 2019 departure is no longer a reality.
For the first time in months, I am considering rowing my existing boat. I have decided to let you weigh in on the decision. Here are the pros and cons of rowing my existing boat in 2019:
Pros
Former Royal Marine Charlie Martell will be setting out from Japan in spring 2019. Charlie has a sister-ship to my boat. This will be his second attempt after being tumbled in typhoon Mwar in 2012 which damaged his boat such that he couldn’t continue. Billie Jean King battle of the sexes on the ocean?
Neither of the Frenchmen who succeeded in rowing the North Pacific actually rowed to land. Both were towed, 20 miles and 50 miles respectively. Charlie and I will both be chasing the same land-to-land record. (I also hope to be the 1st woman to row the North Pacific)
I feel physically and mentally ready to row in 2019.
‘Give it a go!’ – very British. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” If a second attempt is needed, I may be more sponsorable. However… it takes time to build up this level of mental and physical readiness.
Cons
With a plywood deck and cabin faces, my boat is not typhoon proof /impact resistant in a severe storm, where the boat may be rolled continuously. (As proven by Charlie’s attempt in my boat’s sistership in 2012)
In the face of a severe typhoon warning, we both have 2 options:
- Abandon ship for a commercial ship passing nearby
- Ride out the storm with possible consequences – boat damage which would render the record attempt over, personal injury, trauma.
My existing boat is 800 lbs empty compared to 440 lbs of Gerard d’Aboville’s boat. It’s unlikely I could contest the men’s record of 134 days in a boat twice the weight.
Greater physical toll: a heavier boat means more physical effort to propel the boat, so more calories burned, so more food required, which is more weight, which requires more effort which means more food… in an upward spiral of food and weight, resulting in lengthier time at sea.
The new boat design has the potential for me to contest the men’s 134 day (4.5 months) record. With my existing boat I am looking at a 5.5+ month crossing.
If I stick to my guns chasing the new boat, I need to fundraise $30k ASAP for the deposit, to book the time slot to build the new boat in January.
I’ve set up a GoFundMe page, called GoFundMe-boat.
Thank you to the supporter who has already voted with his wallet!
