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August 11, 2000
Solomons to Australia voyage - Update #24
Lat/Long as of 14.32 hrs local time
14 degs 40. 49 S
147 degs 49. 90’E
Day 25. Wind SE 25-30 knots. Heading 172M
"Her legs were quite long, but not quite as strong
As some hairy legged guy.
If he wasn't so broke,
He happily pay some poor bloke
To step in and help him get by."
When I decided to do the ocean crossing I approached my friend and co-worker John Castanha to design a training schedule for me. John coaches and competes and I knew if anyone could get me in shape for this it would be him.
"Do you want to train for endurance or intensity" he asked.
"Let's go for the endurance" I replied. "I want to be like the Energizer Bunny - just keeps going and going and going ?."
John also advised me on nutrition and clothing. So I felt as ready as I could possibly hope to be.
This crossing of the Coral Sea has been my toughest physical challenge ever. To date, John's coaching has served me well. I'm not fast on the pedals, rather methodical and enduring. That's why the night shift has suited me well. I could go the odd extra hour or two. Very handy, especially when the other person needs bit of extra time to finish computer work, navigation, or a bit of extra sleep. It has served me well, that is until now.
It is now crunch time with 150 miles to Cairns. No more relaxed pace allowed as our drift west ratio to miles made good south is what will get us to Cairns. I can follow a compass's directional heading of 180 degrees south; the full bore rpms to compensate for that strong continual current west that has played havoc with us from the start. Jason devised a new pedaling regime yesterday. To balance the pedal power needed he's on the cranks for three hours to my two. I've assumed "Special jobs" on board to allow for a shift in duties. No new jobs really. Just a little longer stint in cooking, cleanup etc. Or perhaps I could employ the use of a paddle I got from a fisherman in Tulagi. Pedaling and rowing in tandem, the best human power has to offer. Hey, whatever gets us to Australia.
April
Posted on August 11, 2000 2:53 PM