Pacific Odyssey - Trans North Pacific Row
| Vessel Name: | Crackers |
| Vessel Make/Model: | Ocean Rower |
| Hailing Port: | Poole, Dorset UK |
| Crew: | Tim Welford, Dom Mee |
| Extra: |
31 December 2001 | Exmouth, Devon, UK
Happy New Year!
What a year it has been, after being on dry land since September it's hard to believe that Tim and I were once rowing the Pacific. We are now preparing for the London Boat Show starting on the 3rd of January 2002, the last time we attended the show was last January along with 'Crackers'.
10 October 2001 | The Blue Boar, Poole, Dorset UK
Reflection
As you all now know, our North Pacific Unsupported rowing attempt came to a disastrous end when we were damaged and capsized beyond repair by an American fishing vessel. Now with our feet firmly on dry land and having got over the 'lucky to be alive' feeling we have to look at the positive aspects of [...]
22 September 2001 | Los Angeles
Rescued
As you know by now, Pacific Odyssey has come to a dramatic and premature end. The Tuna fishing vessel 'Judy S' collided with Crackers cutting the hull virtually in two, throwing Dom into the sea and leaving me trapped in the upturned hull. After getting out we were taken aboard the Judy S and amanged [...]
It's Not Over Until the Pacific Says its Over
On a more positive note we know the weather is due to change and with not too far until the three quarter way mark we're rearing to go.
We've not been alone this week with sightings of three container ships en route to Long Beach California. We always hail the bridge on VHF for the exchange of nautical pleasantries and the joy of hearing another human voice in this wilderness. We have also had some non human contact in the form of a young whale, still a formidable creature at 30 feet he was shy at first circling the boat at a distance until he realised that we were no threat to him. We were then subjected to much bravado as the young buck came towards us at speed in a mock attack, this action was repeated on four occasions before he swam off feeling very brave to assault some plankton:-)
We also had our first encounter with a large shark, at 7 feet not a man eater, but a great spectacle as it circled the boat. Of course at the time none of our cameras were ready and by the time we'd got our act together our curious shark swam off - that's showbiz!
I'm sure we'll see some more as we approach the United States seaboard and the Farallon Islands off San Francisco as it is the home of the largest specimens of great white sharks to be found in the world. Hopefully we'll try to film them - from the safety of Crackers I might add!
All my love to Mum, Dad, Sian and Ang and thank you for all your messages, Alasdair back at our base station will be bringing all your good luck messages out to San Francisco for us to read when we arrive. Unfortunately our laptop cannot be repaired but we know you are all rooting for us. In this Ocean Rowing lark we get plenty of time to marvel at the natural world. Land life is busy so take time out, even if just to stick your head out of the window, feel the wind, smile, you're alive! Until next time keep it real.
Domster
