Race Directors Journal

The Race Director, Chris Usborne, spoke to Savoir Faire skipper, Jason McKinlay, at 17:15 local today.

Jason and Josh are as focussed as always – sharp and aware of the worsening weather developing around them.

They are currently safely and sensibly tucked away at anchor, sheltering from the inbound storm, with thunder and lightning seen ahead.  Jason likened it to being in a vortex – seeing strong winds and dark, heavy rain clouds closing in on them. He thought it could go on for over 24 hours, and was clearly a little frustrated that the enterprising crew were unable to make better progress today. They were aiming to row the necessary 15 miles north to be able to make the hugely psychological turn East towards John O’Groats.

Jason reports both men remain in “good nick” as is their boat, the Emilia Oliver.  Team Savoir Faire are still hugely content with their progress overall, some 6 days ahead of the simulated pairs record set at 52 days. If offered their current position at race start, both rowers agreed without hesitation that they would have taken it, no question.

They are still very much on course to finish GB Row 2013 in the 30’s (between 30 and 39 days to complete their epic 2000 mile non-stop and unaided rowing adventure).

GB Row 2013 Race Director Chris Usborne writes –

It’s a wet and windy Saturday morning across the UK and both racing boats in GB Row 2013 are forced to anchor as they battle opposing winds on either side of mainland Scotland. Team Savoire Faire continue their inspirational pairs challenge, wanting to get round Cape Wrath late tomorrow to take advantage of the Northerlies due later that day.

The leaders, the ever impressive Islanders led by skipper Josh Taylor, will press on Southbound as they close-in on English waters, they are currently skirting the Firth of Forth.  After a difficult 24 hours of variable headwinds, both both crews are recharging their bodies with some extra calories and well-earned rest before they push-on in pursuit of their Guinness World Record schedules.

It’s a fascinating challenge and each boat will record an incredible achievement when they arrive in London, the leaders (Islanders) could be there as early as next Friday – in fact, if they arrive at Tower Bridge on the flooding Thames tide before 05:30 on Friday 28th June, they will become the new World Record holders and win £115,000 pounds – the biggest ever prize in Rowing history.

It has proven to be quite some race.

Dedicated row: Emilia

The last 2 hour session has been one of the most enjoyable of all so far! The mountainous terrain far off to the left of me as I rowed, carved out of the landscape is enough to take anyone’s breathe away. I hardly noticed how much progress had been made. That mixed with the emotions of thinking about my family made it go extremely quickly. Emilia in particular was at the forefront.

It’s one of the questions people ask, “how can you leave such a young baby behind? Won’t you find it hard”….   Nearly 4 months now, Emilia is changing daily, so the effect will be noticed and I am gutted to have missed her turning herself onto her back yesterday in the cot (at 4 months!!). Clever girl.. I console myself that we’ll have a lot to catch up on very soon.

In honesty it was that bit more emotional after seeing Josh’s parents.. It was great to see the effort Nene and Paul had made to get up here yesterday, what a wonderful thing to do. I know you’re extremely proud of Josh and for a lot more than merely rowing a boat! He’s doing himself and all his friends and family proud, trust me. Nothing fazes him and we’ve had some experiences that would see most people take the next opportunity to get off!

I haven’t mentioned his “night shifts”. To be honest, its quite entertaining and I told him on the first night that it wouldn’t be something I’d be complaining about because it means I get more sleep after my next row 😉

This wonderful rowing session tonight was in stark contrast to this mornings hammering I took this is why you can see the adjacent line on Yellowbrick running backwards and towards land….yes, that was me!! A northwesterly hit out I nowhere and frankly I didn’t have the heart to wake josh from his well deserved nap.. I simply enjoyed the soaking wet weather and rode with the waves until the Anchor could be put out some 3 1/2 hours after getting in the oars… So from a hideous start to the day, to a beautiful session… This country certainly keeps us on our toes…

Sorry for the long text.. It’s been a while.

J x

 

On one side of Scotland a team of rowers heads south, battling into a headwind. On the other side of Scotland, another team of rowers heads north, battling into a headwind. The fact that both teams have faced such different headwind directions while just 150 miles apart  emphasises the challenge the British weather presents to this race at every turn.

Race leaders the Islanders are making 1.6 knots with a headwind of 7-8 knots as they make a break for the far side of the Firth of Firth this evening. Meanwhile second placed Savoir Faire are managing to make a rather better 2.3 knots with around 3.5 knots of wind which has swung round to be more or less behind them as the head to turn the corner at Cape Wrath.

In a blog posted on Facebook earlier this evening Josh Tarr of Savoir Faire tells how his parents travelled to Scotland for an emotional rendez vous at the Skye Bridge… read more >

 

Feels like a long time since the last update. It all feels a little sluggish at the moment, I think we just have our eye set on Cape Wrath and rounding the top of Scotland so it’s downhill to home..

We just made the window through Loch Alsh, amazing little place! We went from a steady 3.5 knots to 7 or 8 knots within the Kyle 🙂 Unexpectedly we had about 30 seals in that small area playing around and staring at us, a bazarre 20 minutes!

Out the other side we powered on to try and see my parents who’ve travelled up from Devon to see us, amazing! We crept around the corner and got a text “we can see you!” .. Creepy … We couldn’t see them but as we got closer I noticed mum dressed in the brightest clothes she owns along with a bright pashmina to wave to us in case we missed them! Turns out we could get close enough to speak and mum was screaming as expected 🙂 It was emotional seeing them and I think they felt the same, it got to me a little, watching dad walking (bobbing) along the Skye bridge, taking photos from afar, I know they’re proud and it’s a nice feeling.

 

 

We carry on… We’re still unsure what is happening with this unstable low over Scotland, there will be northerlies but we’re not sure exactly when they’ll come in and how strong? It seems to be a little later and not as strong as expected so we’re heading for shelter 10 miles below Cape Wrath (Bodha Roin) to regroup and reassess the weather. If we’ve got allowable conditions, we’re only 2 days from getting around John O’Groats which is a massive milestone because I can eat my pork scratchings.

Today we had the coastguard intentionally fly-by us and circle us, amazing experience and we’ve got a little video so we’ll try to get that up but it was a real moment watching the winch men pretending to pull on the oars, a real boost!

We continue to slog away and now we’re close to 20 miles from shelter where we could be stuck for 2 days?! Hopefully not, if there’s an opportunity to move then we will but the fact is that there’s not much shelter on the north coast, especially from a strong northerly wind!

It’s lovely to hear lots of inspiring comments from home and from people we hardly know but will hopefully get to when we’re back, party on!

We’re both in good spirits, we’re working well together and hopefully Jay isn’t secretly cursing my struggle to get up for late shifts! I’m doing my best 🙂

Lots of love to everyone at home, don’t forget the charities 😉

 

JT

The Islanders now have less than 400 miles to go to the finish in London. Inching their way down the east coast of Scotland, they are now near Carnoustie, with 43miles, as the crow flies, to go the English border. 

 After battling yesterday to repair the watermaker onboard the Black Oyster, skipper Josh Taylor reports today that the boat’s batteries are not holding their charge well.

  To beat the world record for the fastest non-stop row around Britain, Josh, Alan Morgan, James Plumley and Gavin Sheehan, have t reach Tower Bridge before 5.30am next Friday.  Can they do it in the remaining six and a half days? Keep watching the tracker, folks.

Meanwhile, Jason McKinlay and Josh Tarr in second-place Savoir Faire are preparing to round Cape Wrath tomorrow – with storms forecast for Saturday afternoon and evening.

 They are now as far north as Ullapool, just 40 miles from the most north-westerly point in the 2,000-mile race around Britain’s mainland.

 While Josh was on the oars, Jason explained that they will row to a bay seven miles from the Cape and then wait for a weather window.

 He said: ” Originally, we were told there would be 40-knot winds in the area but the forecast has now fallen back to 20-25knots. If with wind is the right direction we might go for it in those conditions.

 “But we will wait and plan for the conditions we find when we get there. We have come so far and it would be silly to risk all we have achieved by not waiting until the conditions are right.

 “Last night, for example the sea like glass it was so calm but at 07.30 – just as forecast – a westerly wind appeared and we couldn’t row against it, so we stopped and waited until the conditions changed in our favour.”

 Yesterday Josh’s parents, Paul and Yanine Tarr were waiting at Skye Bridge to greet Savoir Faire. They had driven nearly 500 miles in their camper van from their home in Devon to be there.

 Jason said: “It was wonderful surprise and Josh certainly appreciated them being there. We managed to come in quite close to the shoreso we could speak to them.”

  We have included a couple of Yanine and Paul’s photos in this blog.