IOR 2009 Blog Archive

Fellow bloggers, if you want to find out more about the 'flying start' then check out the official Woodvale Indian Ocean race website: www.indianoceanrowingrace09.com/news/  What happens next ? For those that are wondering......(apart from lots of rowing!) If you want to follow all race teams progress then follow this link:  www.indianoceanrowingrace09.com/progress/ If you just want to follow Flying Ferkins progress then stick with the boys homepage map. How is it going to work ? From now on a few dedicated bloggers will be keeping this site posted with Guy & Andrew's progress. Comments really welcome, everything so far has been inspirational and has meant the world to the boys. We will be keeping a watchful eye on the comments section. We've heard that BBC Radio 1 covered the race in the news this morning ? Yeehaaa - keep the publicity flowing !  Wishing the boys a safe first night on board.... Tom out

Hi, its Guy's brother Tom!  So they have left and over a day has been done on the Flying Ferkins. There are a number of reasons why the updates will be short and possibly infrequent during these early days. The boys are going to be hardening to the trials of being at sea on an ocean rowing boat!  A steep learning curve as we can only imagine.   They left Geraldton and followed a North West course. They will continue on this course for a while with the aim of taking a left hand turn at the reefs (Alborhos North Island). The weather wind conditions are typical for the area.  However, turning left is tough going! I’ve taken the following off the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009 site progress section: “We apologise for the intermittent tracking updates, the data suppliers have confirmed there is a problem with the tracking system and are investigating.” I think this is for all the teams tracking. Guy & Andrew’s support crew will be in regular contact with them.  Please, please, continue to leave your comments and thoughts on the blog. These will be relayed to the boys. Tom out

A BIG happy birthday to Guy. He has even managed to open his cards!  I’m sure you will all join me when I toast him tonight. A fairly unique place to turn 25 that’s for sure, one birthday he will never forget!  It’s been a tough today holding position and sitting out the weather. Conditions are quite hostile. The boys will be spilling their rum as they ride it out for a while, until they can pick out a chance to make their desired course again.  Please keep the comments coming… Tom out

Message from Andy & Guy: Power anchor down for 30-35 hours. Scarey out here, big waves, massive swells, high winds as well. Swells in many sense of the words! Suffering sores. Both walking around the boat completely naked! Guy has 3 major sores on his ar*e and Andy has got a rash on his….apart from that doing well. Series of highs, we’ve heard that other crews are dropping out. Stuck in the cabin being smashed around together, hot, sweaty and pretty revolting! Guy & Andy x Please keep the comments coming...

The boys continue to row hard and decided to get on the oars through out the night!  Real progress in terms of mileage. Support crew getting the hang of the best tactics for the long race. Worth listening to Absolute radio tomorrow as small chance the boys will get a 'shout out' on Jo Russell show (10am - 1pm). Comments as always, greatly received!

Click here to donate money for the fight against the spread of male cancers and support Orchid, the boys chosen charity.

Tom out

A very good day on the oars ! Night rowing paying off. Hard work but has it’s dividends. Water deeper now at 1,500M. Plan is to continue on the same course. Boys finding the cabin environment a little uncomfortable. Not designed for two tall blokes! Keep those comments coming.

Click here to donate money for the fight against the spread of male cancers and support Orchid, the boys chosen charity. 

Tom out

Tough week ahead as progress will be slower than of recent times. Working hard to manage their frustrations and claw their way along. Spirits onboard good. Possible spotting of shark. Presently caught in a localised current. Thank you for all your comments. Keep them coming. Click here to donate money for the fight against the spread of male cancers and support Orchid, the boys chosen charity. Tom Out

Been a difficult day but a good day on the oars. However, mood is upbeat onboard. The weather and swell continue to hamper performance. Mother nature taking it’s toll. Aim is to push away from the shallow water. Present depth 2000-3000M. Decision to move in a NW direction. Expecting a tough couple of days ahead. Weather however looking to improve towards the weekend. More shark spotting going on, although not worrying the boys. Boys working closely with the support team. I’m sure you will all join me in thanking them. Please keep your comments coming. Means the world to the boys in these times.

Click here to donate money for the fight against the spread of male cancers and support Orchid, the boys chosen charity.

Tom out

Mood still good on board Flying Ferkins.  Andrew & Guy are working really hard to be released from this entrapping current. Heavy weather again for a couple of days will lead onto a lighter weekend.  Approaching the 200nm mark! Your comments continue to give them so much support.

Click here to donate money for the fight against the spread of male cancers and support Orchid, the boys chosen charity.

Tom out

Sadly for them -boat - 1 Doing Time have had to retire from the race today due to some technical difficulties, the boys are pleased they are safe and sound.So this leaves Southern Cross and Flying Ferkins 'pulling it out' for the pairs world record....Flying Ferkins have got them in their sights! Both James Thysse & James Facer-Childs became firm friends with Andrew & Guy prior to race day so competition aside we just hope they all stay safe. Mood on board Ferkins remains excellent. Boat really moving in the right direction. Weather is rough presently but still looking good for the weekend. Boys in 5000m of water! Flying Ferkins pre race (ready for the off!): Boys living conditions: Great to see the comments approaching 20 yesterday!  The support is fantastic  - 'thank you' everyone.

Click here to donate money for the fight against the spread of male cancers and support Orchid, the boys chosen charity.

Tom out

We received a message direct from the flying ferkins today. The boys sounded in a positive mood, despite the frustrating weather conditions!! They reported that they always knew the first couple of weeks would always be the hardest, until they found a good routine. They are hopefully following a good course though now and said that the further they get from the Australia coast the easier it should become (fingers crossed). For those of you following shark watch....news just in the shark following them was a Bronze Whaler Shark. They said it followed their boat for a few hours and seemed very intrigued by them. Although maybe it was just following the smell of two sweaty rowers!!!!!!! Tried to upload picture but website or my incapabilities, wouldnt allow it!! But if anyone knows more about the Bronze Whaler shark be interesting to hear few facts. Apart from that they felt it was important news to report it has been fairly cloudy today so little stereo action, which for those of you who know Andrew and Guy know that music is how they function! Andrew also wanted to report that the Chocolate puddings were going down very nicely too!!! Anyway, they hope to update us all again in the next couple of days and as Tom has said all the support has been amazing for the boys and we are reporting this all back to them so keep it coming,

Click here to donate money for the fight against the spread of male cancers and support Orchid, the boys chosen charity.

Sarah (Andrew's girlfriend) out

Hi to all of you Ferkin followers!  We are feeling OK today and were cheered up by the sight of another boat on the horizon, especially as it turned out to be a British ship which we spoke to on the VHF radio, warning them of our position.  We watched as they went past - quite exciting really.  It's hot today but rowing conditions are good as there is not much wind and we are heading in a good westerly direction.  Hopefully you are following our progress on the tracker.We are now both settling into the routine and even getting into the food although neither of us are keen on the freeze-dried sweet and sour lamb, but the spag bol is good.  We are starting to see more and more marine life and along with the sharks we even had a flying fish land on the Ferkin yesterday!  Thank you for all your support and please post any questions on the blog comments that you would like us to answer and we will do our best to get back to you.Looking forward to having a beer with you all!Guy Out X Click here to donate money for the fight against the spread of male cancers and support Orchid, the boys chosen charity. To follow our progress please go to the official Woodvale Challenge site  www.indianoceanrowingrace09.com/progress

Two weeks gone already seems only yesterday we waved everyone goodbye as we headed away from Geraldton!!  Making good steady progress and keeping on course - the nights are the worst and we get cold and wet - it's a relief to get into the cabin.  Could start to get bored with the food so maybe the Apricot crumble will taste different - sure we are loosing weight too................! Andrew out

All pretty good not very much to report all a  bit boring but we've had calm water today and should have the same for the next few days so we can make good headway.  Yesterday a ship flashed up on the AIF called 'What a Bum" - we called them up to ask them their position -  made us think of our bums.............!  There are loads of flying fish on the deck each morning............ We were able to talk to Sarah Outen today she  passed the 1,000 mile  mark on Saturday it was good to chat with her she is happy and confirms the weather coming to us is pretty calm. We use the shower to mainly rinse off all the salt - don't think we are smelling too bad!  The moon has been full on the last few nights so we haven't seen much of the stars - no shooting stars so far.  The Apricot crumble is so sour - horrid.......!  Both feeling pretty up beat and chilled at the moment.  Thank you for the questions will do our best to have the right answers. Andrew out

Everything fine on board Flying Ferkins. The weather is improving and daily rowing mileages up. Due to the better weather conditions equipment and boys drying out nicely. Guy still sore and improving and Andrew unscathed. Believe it or not the boys have been using tea tree soap to clean! Making good westerley direction and passing 400nm. Weather looking positive for the next few days. Thank you for all your questions. Please keep posting them. Click here to donate money for the fight against the spread of male cancers and support Orchid, the boys chosen charity. To follow our progress please go to the official Woodvale Challenge site. Tom out

Press play to start. Also go to the gallery pages or click here to see pictures of the race preparations and day the race started. Click here to donate money for the fight against the spread of male cancers and support Orchid, the boys chosen charity. To follow our progress please go to the official Woodvale Challenge site. Guy out

Pretty much the same out here for the past 24 hours that word boring comes to mind again!  The waters are calmer and we have been constantly rowing 2 hours on and 2 hours off and mixing that with 2 hours rowing together making steady progress.  Everything is up beat and feeling pretty good.   The weather is calmer  fewer swells 10 knot winds so we are drying off nicely too - for the past week the  sun has been shining and so we are fully charged up playing plenty of music to keep us bobbing along - U2 Achtung Baby has done it for us today!   We see fewer seabirds now that we are further away from the shore but we are still visited by flying fish perhaps we could learn some techniques from them!  Some of the food is a little more interesting, it's repetitive and we really can't get excited about it but it's doing the trick.   Whoops no we haven't taken any photos yet! Andrew out Click here to donate money for the fight against the spread of male cancers and support Orchid, the boys chosen charity. To follow our progress please go to the official Woodvale Challenge site.

I know it must be really frustrating for you guys back home that you're not getting a regular reading of our position.  No we haven't decided to be a stealth missile - well not yet anyway!!  We have an intermittent connection with the GPS at the moment that hopefully will get sorted in the next 24 hours.  We are fine it is really flat calm and we are rowing a lot together and trying out different schedules to see which works best.  We are on a south westerly course and we feel we are making great progress. Andrew out Click here to donate money for the fight against the spread of male cancers and support Orchid, the boys chosen charity. To follow our progress please go to the official Woodvale Challenge site.