News

AFTER turning east at Cape Wrath, race leaders the Islanders strayed into a firing range used by the RAF for live bombing practice.

 Luckily, the sea state was extremely calm and their boat, the Black Oyster, was spotted by range safety wardens who sent out a boat to tow the Islanders out of the danger zone.

 Had Josh Taylor and his crew taken a tow they would have been disqualified under race rules.

 After politely declining the offer, the Islanders were rowing as hard as they could at 2knots against the tide to get out of the firing zone, under the watchful eye of Stornaway and Shetland coastguard stations.

 Meanwhile, 150 miles south, second place Savoir Faire were approx six miles from Oban, after managing to row all night, even against the tide.

Josh Tarr on Savoir Faire reported: “We managed to push on through the night with no need to anchor, saving valuable time and adding even more valuable miles. Our golden rule is, if its more than 1 knot, try to stick with it. It was a good call…”

 Tracker watchers may have noticed a blue boat appear on the Yellowbrick map. The blue boat is now near Wicklow in southern Ireland.

 This ‘ghost boat’ is tracking the current world for a pair rowing around Britain. The record of nearly 52 days was set in 2010 by two Army doctors, who actually rowed a course that was shorter by 150 miles, because they started and finished at Lymington in Hampshire

 Race Director Chris Usborne said: “Josh and his rowing partner Jason McKinlay are well ahead of the world record and, from now, on Guinness will only recognise unassisted round-Britain rowing records that start and finish at Tower Bridge.”

 

 

 

Day 16 in GBRow 2013 been one of heaven and hell.

 Heaven for Jason McKinlay and Josh Tarr in Savoir Faire. They left anchor on the Northern Ireland coast to make the 12mile crossing to the Mull of Kintyre.

 In perfect sunny weather with a light tail wind, they safely negotiated the crossing in around five hours then spent the rest of the day rowing in two-hour shifts up the west coast of Mull.

Tonight they are north of Campbeltown. Jason and Josh expect to anchor at midnight for about four hours while the tide is against them before setting off again. Tomorrow Savoir Faire will reach the Island of Mull and possibly the Skye Bridge by nightfall.     

 Just over 150 miles north, race leaders the Islanders were going through hell.

 Skipper Josh Taylor said: “Whoever said hell was hot and dry was wrong. It’s cold wet and about 60nm from Cape Wrath. But inch by inch we’re climbing out of it.”

 The crew of the Black Oyster anchored for several hours after failing to make headway against tide and wind. This afternoon they set off again, hoping the wind would live up to the forecast and switch to the south.

 Tomorrow they hope to reach the treacherous tides and the forbidding sandstone cliffs of Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point in this epic 2,000-mile race.

 

 

Latest blog from Josh Taylor on Black Oyster:

54 48.654 N 05 40.343W. Rowing against the strong tide and light headwind in the North Channel between Belfast and Larne, hugging the coast. Waiting for the tide to turn at 15.30. Keeping an eye on the weather to decide when to head for Scotland and leave Ireland behind.

WEDNESDAY June 12

In 3G and better weather for the time being! Yesterday resulted in a snapped oar and riding swell to shelter. The oar snapped as we were pulling in the sea anchor. No panic, nobody hurt, just took out the replacement and got back to the oars.

Today we are making the most up the N Irish coast before another stronger low pressure hits. All is well on board.

Celebrity Gavin’s back is better and he has spoken to nearly every Irish radio station. Stage 2 almost done.

Stage 3 – Scotland.

We would like to thank again and again the overwhelming support from family, friends, locals and organisations and as well we would like to apologise if any Mersea Island School kids receive and Yellowbrick homeworkJ You’ve all been such a help motivating us to drive us on.

 Following five hours at anchor this afternoon in waves the size of double-decker buses, the Islanders began rowing again at tea time.

Tonight the crew in the Black Oyster were at anchor again, seeking shelter in the lee of a bay near Minerstown, south of Belfast.

After a shift last night where real progress was made – often racing at more than five knots – it was disappointing for Josh Taylor and his crew of four to have to sit out the weather for hours on end.

The Islanders posted this photo of Gavin Sheehan on deck, with huge waves and white horses all around.

Their comment was: “Loving the Irish Sea with its double-decker bus-sized waves. So much that we decided to stay a little longer…frustrated doesn’t cover it! Sea anchor out again!”

 More than 100 miles south, Jason McKinlay and Josh Tarr in Savoir Faire are making more than two knots in the Irish Sea between Wexford and Aberystwyth.

 See the posting below from Jason, on life in the Irish Sea and looking ahead to a storm brewing on Thursday.

 

 

So it’s been a long day today starting with an early rise to check what time would be best to leave Salcombe…

Lifting the anchor certainly got rid of any cobwebs from the sleep. Josh rowed towards it against a strong headwind and I dangled over to drag the 38 metres of rope and 10 metres of chain.

We turned away and plotted a course straight at The Lizard. Rolling waves and a strong breeze (East, thankfully), saw us make good progress early another day. Turned beautiful and calmed down but not too much that we couldn’t continue our shift pattern of 90 on 90 off…. We’ve been doing that all day and plan to continue, make it into Penzance whenever we can and leave for The Irish Sea on Saturday at Midnight…. The southerly winds should start then and hopefully our luck will continue.

Thanks for your continued support… Sleep time now, I only have another 45 minutes…

Photos sent to us by George Barnes: