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Training with a post-row tipple
09 Mar 2011
Inspecting the ice boat on the Solent
Billy Gammon reporting on the Row to the Pole diary this week with an update on my role and the crew’s training regime.
With every weekend training session that passes, we're all getting to know each other better and better. None of us knew each other prior to this expedition and so far so good.
Training has been going well and we've been putting the 'ice boat' through her paces - so far she's risen to every challenge. She's an amazing vessel and whilst I don't want to sound soft, I must admit I'm becoming very fond of her!
I started off in the 'stroke' seat, but technical flaws (otherwise known as gross rowing incompetence) meant I was moved to the middle seat, known as 'The Engine Room'. I can't fit in the bow seat (yes I am actually too big...which is a first) and given we don't have an official 'cox' I guess the engine room is the least obstructive place to put me!
I'm still training 2 hours a day in the gym (6-8am), 5 days a week. Monday, Wednesday and Friday are dedicated to the dreaded ergo (rowing machine), which is supplemented with a lighter session on the oars and strength training on Tuesday and Thursday. The most difficult thing is dealing with the boredom and monotony of the ergo - the iPod can only do so much!
To give you a snapshot of our days as a crew, we went out on the Solent recently for what turned out to be quite an excitable weekend on the water. All was going well on the Saturday until we had to make our entry back in to Christchurch against what can only be described as a challenging tide - an hour later and many a calorie lighter we made it in to the safe confines of the harbour...and did what this crew does best, duly celebrated a fine day on the oars with a few too many pints of the black stuff (and the odd tipple of Old Pulteney of course).
Boatyards, biscuits and surfing
04 Mar 2011
Mark Delstanche reporting
Mark Delstanche here on the Row to the Pole diary, reporting on what myself and the rest of the crew have been doing this week.
My responsibility is primarily the build and fit out of the boat and I've been going back and forth to Rossiters boatyard. The guys at the yard have been fantastic in fitting out the boat and making adjustments. Going to the Arctic has thrown up some unique design challenges and everyone has been great coming up with ideas and putting our requests into practice.
Training with the guys on the crew is going really well. We learn something new about the boat and each other with each outing. We’re making improvements where necessary and that’s the main purpose of training at this stage.
We've learnt some important lessons already, for example, we know that with three of us at the oars we can move the boat at about 3.5 knots (or 4 of your land lubbers miles an hour). Unless you’re trying to row directly into a force 8 gale in which case you won't go anywhere.
We've also learnt that the boat goes exceedingly well in to wind, particularly if you're the one steering and not actually rowing (thanks Jock). And that it's best not to give a demonstration on how quickly you can eat a biscuit just before giving a TV interview.
We also learnt last weekend that if you want to go surfing, it's probably best to use a surfboard and not an 800kg boat unless you’ve brought a change of underpants!
The next update will be from Billy so until then we’ll carry on with our training and I’m sure he’ll have some interesting tales to tell!