OVER THE HUMP

Neill & Hazel reporting - Well, they are over the half way mark and in 2nd place. Now they are catching up on Bexhill and Neill has been using pen and paper to calculate when they will arrive in Mauritius. There is a site with a prediction that they will arrive on 23rd June - Neill has been beavering away, calculator in hand and has come up with the date of arrival as "19th/20th June" Anyone who knows Neill knows that he is normally spot on with timings, so it's worth a bet!!!!!!!! 

We have spoken to Helen twice this week - once to give us a new satelite telephone number, as messages were not getting through as they had run out of minutes. So if any family or friend's would like to send her a sat message please go to www.iridium.com, go to send a satelite message and fill in the details - you will need the number 881631522893. It's that simple and it is free. So please, continue to send her messages of support as we know she does look for them.

The second call was on my birthday, the crew of Audeamus sang "Happy Birthday" to me, there are not many people (if any) who can say that they have been sung to by 8 people in a rowing boat on the Indian Ocean from a position almost exactly half way between Australia and Mauritius. That is something I will always remember and it made my day. 

So just under 1500nm to go!!!! 

Helen would like to wish all Teddy Hall crews the best of luck for the Oxford Summer Eights, which is this week and she said "Go Girls" and retain the headship - she will be thinking of you and will phone us on Sunday for the results.

She is still upbeat and pleased with their position. She has the rowers "claw hands" and a sore backside but apart from that she sounds fine. 

Please send her your support

WET AND WINDY!!

The crew have suffered some very bad weather this past week. With 30 knot winds and 6 metre waves!! The whole fleet was stalled all having to deploy the para anchor's. These anchor's helps to keep the bow facing to the weather and to help stop the boat rocking so much. All the boats survived although one of the doubles did capsize. Although they were upside down for 7 minutes the boat was eventually righted. 

They are all on the way again, Audeamus have really put the power on with 81 nautical miles completed yesterday. 

We spoke to Helen this morning and she seems in good spirits, she said she is suffering with claw hands and it takes her about 10 minutes every morning to get her hands straight (her bum is sore as well) 

As of tonight they are closing down on the 3 boats in front and they are only 21nm and 32nm behind Pura Vida and RFP respectively. The gap between them and Bexhill is now down to 177nm and hopefully they will catch them within the next week or so. 

We will keep you informed and don't forget Helen still would like messages of support for her and the crew. These are invaluable to the morale on board. 

Please visit www.justgiving.com/indianoceanrow to donate to Helen's chose charity Scope. Or if you wish to donate directly to Helen e-mail tayice@gtbarton.fsnet.co.uk for further details.

GO GIRL!

Things have progressed quite quickly since the last update, Audeamus has reached the magical milestone of 1000nm (nautical miles) and at this time of updating it stands at 1034nm. They are now only 237nm behind the lead boat and the prediction is that they will catch them up around 28th. May and arrive in Mauritius around the 15th June. NOTE there is still a long way to go - another 2/3rds of the Indian Ocean. Please visit a new site set up for Audeamus www.mt-hood.com. This site gives you speed indicators and predictions when she is due to arrive (the site is still growing and looking good)
Many, many thanks to all who are sending Helen messages of support, she really appreciates these. We spoke to Helen yesterday (13th May) she has had a couple of days when her spirit was low due to being wet and cold, as they have had some rough weather (and she thought "WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE") but she now sounds much better now, the sun is shinning althought the sea is still rough, all the crew are supporting each other. Anyone who knows Helen, will know how dedicated and single minded she can be and this will see her through.
Many thanks to Jonathan at Suffolk Free Press for the update on Helen and the row but please note that my name is Hazel not ALEX!!!! not sure where that came from?
We are now thinking of booking flights to Mauritius, can't wait to see her.
Don't forget she is still trying to raise money for Scope Short Breaks in Bury St Edmunds - you can donate by visiting www.justgiving.com/indianoceanrow.
We will update soon.

HELEN CALLING

We have, at last, had a phone call from Helen (even if it was 5am) she sounded in good spirits. She was shaken by the knockdown that occured on the 1st. May but she is fine now. Although they are now having to row with 3 sliding seats and 1 fixed seat, we think it must be a race to get to position and the loser gets the fixed seat. They reckon rowing like this sucks!! Land support are now appealing for family/friends to send a message to Helen and the crew to show support. Don't forget the website is www.piraterow.com to get the latest news and tracking. They are now starting to overtake some of the other boats and closing in on the rest. Today is day 9 and they have 2688 nm to the finish!!!!!!!!!!!

OFF AND RUNNING

Mum and Dad reporting: This is day 6 of the challenge, unfortunately we have not been able to speak to Helen yet as we were not at home when she tried to contact us by satellite phone on Saturday 2nd. She did speak to her Uncle Ross and said that she was fine and unhurt after being hit by a huge wave (approx 50ft) on Friday 1st. which almost caused a capsize. Apart from breaking an oar, losing one sliding seat and seat cushions, all is well. The crew were shaken by the experience fortunately no-one was hurt and they are all in good spirits and back rowing pulling hard (71nm) in last 24 hours.
We have reports that all the crew are sore in the places that they thought they would be sore i.e. hands and bums!!!!!!!!
We have it on good authority that as they are now starting to catch boats they will be "Mooning" every time they pass one (could be a big shock for the flying fish)
Please keep the messages of support coming as Helen will need all the encouragement and inspiration she can get.
If anyone would like to contact us please do so on tayice@gtbarton.fsnet.co.uk.
We will next update after we have spoken to her. Hopefully within the next few days.