Editor’s note.
This is possibly the last on-board blog from the girls. They are that close to the end. Mel mentions that they are going to be going for it in the next few days, chasing down the boys ahead and keeping in front of the boys they’ve overtaken. There will be a big update once they hit land of course!
Current Position
Mel – Blog w/c 15th March
Hurrah – we’re back in 13th place – it’s great to see the hard work we’ve put in over the last few days has paid off. We upped the hours on the blades from 12 (which was what we’d normally be doing) to 16 – and then upped it again to 18 at the weekend, which is what we feel is the absolute maximum. It’s damn hard work but we managed to “hoik” ourselves back from 17th to 13th it was all worth it.
The extra hours on the blades do have a huge impact on us as we get very little sleep now (not that we got very much before) and we still need to eat and do our daily chores; making water, navigation etc., so with any spare time, chores have to come first and sleep second. But we only have a few more days to go, so we’re hoping we can do without sleep.
Existence has become very functional – just row, eat sleep, row eat, sleep. It could easily become a chore, but we try not to let that happen. On Friday it was absolutely sweltering hot and despite the fact that we were chasing down boys, we just jumped in the sea and went swimming. It had got so hot that we didn’t know what to do with ourselves and it’s actually quite torturous to sit rowing with the sea so close so we thought, “you know what, we’re going to take 10 minutes out and go for a swim”.
On Saturday night we drank our last alcohol on board. We had white wine sachets. We very much enjoyed those, watching the sun go down, so although it’s hard work on Explore it can be fun too. As much as we want to be in Antigua, we’re very aware that we only have a few days left on Explore and we want to savour them. Despite the hardships, we really are loving this and we’ll miss it when it’s all over.
You can do it…am thinking of you all the way.
Antigua is a lovely island, hope you get time to enjoy it! Enjoy a rum punch!
Sue
Hi, Annie& Mel What a fantastic pair you are,all those Blogs when all you wanted was some sleep
I expect you have made it by now, but if not, go like hell and get that record. IT’s a fantastic achievment.
As I mentioned before if you have gone off plastic food,!! your meal awaits.
John s.
Well done Mel and Annie. Absolutely brilliant. Roger and Lucy
Fantastic, brilliant, mega, words fail. Roger and Lucy
Yipee Doo Annie & Mel, Congratulations on a fine well tuned in girl power effort. Sooo proud of U chicks. Am sure by now the wine & champers has flowed & even I will raise a glass to u tonight wen I get home fr work. Cant wait for yr land update & some photies of the finish. Hav a fabulous rest & tell Pete & Kim that MWA sends love from home (East London). Enjoy your rest & enjoy sharing your adventure with all around you. Lots hugs and I say U GO GIRLS xxxx Tess from East London SA
Fantastic ! Well done you two, how absolutely brilliant !
Congratulations to you both. Absolutely fabulous. You are just the best and I’m so pleased for you. Happy Birthday Annie and what a one! Wish I could be there with you to celebrate but looking forward to seeing you when you get back. Enjoy your time in Antigua and just savour the moment:-)
Love and hugs Kerstin & Jon xxxx
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNIE!!! Sorry, in all the excitement we nearly forgot! as if… We have just one question to ask… WHAT’S NEXT??????????????????????????????? Lots and Lots of Love to YOU amazing YOU!! Katie and Ren. XX XFX P.S. When are you coming over to St. Val for a bit of R & R? XX
WOW!!! Well done you two – you have done are doing amazingly! Looking forward to catching up with you. Belated happy birthday for yesterday Annie. Claire xxx
Just amazing Mel – well done to both of you.