#greatpacificrace

[row4climate-blog]

Day One Done!

Eliza and Team Ripple Effect are one day into the race! They are sending daily reports back through texts and satellite phone. Here’s Ripple Effect’s location on the map: 

Ripple Effect is the lead boat and they are making good progress. They started with three crew members rowing and one resting. They have now switched to two rowing and two resting. The wind has picked up this evening and the conditions are likely to be challenging for the first week until they get farther west into calmer waters. Team Ripple Effect is handling it well and going strong! As of 7:00 pm they had rowed 33 nautical miles and had 2,055 more miles to go to get to Hawaii!

The best place to track the boats is on the GreatPacificRace.com website, or try the YB Race app which gives boat speed.

[loonbird2020-blog]

Challenges to raise awareness

The BARCELONA - IBIZA and IBIZA - BARCELONA races are the world’s premier ocean rowing events pitting teams of amateur rowers against each other in a 200 miles/3 day journey across the Mediterranean.

Rowing across an ocean or sea is like no other sport. Ocean rowing is as much about the crews’ ability to cope mentally, as it is about technique and physical strength.

2019 will see the largest fleet of intrepid adventurers yet take on the Mediterranean.

Help raise vital funds ...

https://pledgit.net/campaign/2b0dbf/bridie-hughess-ibiza-to-barcelona-row-2019

All for one cause. To end the 5% of cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). We can prevent HPV-related cancers by vaccinating both boys and girls against the virus.

[epicvelociwrap-blog]

It was immediately obvious which was the first wrap of the day to tick off !!! 😳🚣‍♀️ Wheres the kettle? #wheresmydesk #putthekettleon #oceanrowing #rowing #row #greatpacificrace @greatpacificrace #squeezeditin #vinylwrap #solarpanels #atlanticrowingboat #wraptodaygonetomorrow #vinyl #graphics #velociwrap #velociwraphq (at Velociwrap Limited)

[boatylicious]

Water, Water, Everywhere, Nor Any Drop to Drink

Like the Ancient Mariner, we’ve come to realise that you can’t underestimate the value of safe and clean water supplies. To produce enough water to keep us going on board we need the sun to come out and power our solar panels so that the water purifier can run for 70 minutes every day. Since our supply is so vulnerable to changes in weather we can’t afford any waste at all and end up consuming less than we do at home — despite the fact that our exertion levels are quite a bit higher than normal! 

Thankfully, we’ll have access to all the water we need once we hit Hawaii, unlike the 748 million people worldwide who go through life with no access to safe water. And while we might get teased about our bucket-toilet, we can’t imagine the dangers faced by millions of girls worldwide who don’t have access to basic sanitation facilities.

Our experience out here means we’re happier than ever to be raising money for WaterAid’s #GirlStrong campaign, which this summer alone is aiming to provide clean water and toilets to 5,000 girls. What’s more, every Water Aid donation made on our page before September will be matched by the UK government (DFID), so your generosity will have twice the impact.

We’re also working with Hope and Homes for Children, who work to ensure that every child grows up in a loving family rather than in institutions. We’re privileged to have the support of families, who stick by us even when we do something as crazy as rowing the Pacific! This adventure wouldn’t have been possible without them and the highlight of the day on-board is receiving their emails and calls and hearing that they’re spreading the word at home.  

So, if you’ve been following us on Yellowbrick, or via our blog, Facebook and Twitter feeds, please please please consider making a donation to one of these incredible campaigns.  Knowing we can contribute to their work makes what we’re doing is worthwhile, even at the toughest moments!

To donate to the Team Boatylicious charities, please visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=boatylicious&isTeam=true

[pacificwarriorsrow]

Hawaii dreaming on the party boat #rowingforacureforsadness #greatpacificrace

[row4climate-blog]

Past the 100-mile Mark!

Team Ripple Effect just rowed past the 100-mile mark! The first part of the race is exhausting as the crews try to break away from the shore. The prevailing winds blow onshore in California because as the land heats up the air over it rises and the cool air over the ocean rushes in to replace it.  In addition, a storm came through yesterday bringing gale force winds. Today the National Weather Service predicts Northwest winds up to 25 knots and waves 7 to 11 feet in height. These strong winds also bring big waves and small boats can’t go directly West across the waves. With the wind and waves pushing them onshore the Ripple Effect and all the teams have to battle mightily for any westward movement. 

Yesterday the winds were 25 to 29 knots from the North - Northwest with swells between 9 and 11 feet at about 7 seconds. Crews are tired and some are seasick. They are getting used to the rhythm of rowing and sleeping in two-hour intervals. Since there is no refrigeration on board fresh food is now gone and cooking is a struggle in the big winds. The strong winds and big waves are unrelenting so most of the crews including the Ripple Effect put out their para-anchors last night so they could wait out the storm and try to sleep. 

A para-anchor is like a parachute designed for the water. Rather than tethering the boat to the seabed, it increases the drag through the water and acts like a brake. It slows the boat down and lets the crew stop rowing, climb into their cabin, and rest. If you are keeping an eye on the tracker you can see when a crew has deployed their para-anchor because their speed slows way down.

Eliza and the Ripple Effect crew are working hard and putting forth amazing effort. They have rowed 105 nautical miles from Monterey!

[loonbird2020-blog]

Clocking up the training courses and passing to get the certificates required before taking on my Rowing Challenges #NOMAN Race 2019 and #GreatPacificRace 2020 💪🚣‍♂️ #LoonBird2020 #Racing #OceanRowing https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq0JirWlGFyIHiJtptEfipQIG9gzSPbGgkotU80/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=h3xnhuufs1ux

[loonbird2020-blog]

A huge Thank You Dawn Wood ! Without your amazing teaching skills I’d of not passed my Radio exam today x happy me !!! 😊 #preparation #NOMAN #GreatPacificRace #Training #HPV #EndCancer https://www.instagram.com/p/BpsJiMpFx0IaDZUN9GjUrm0Hc1Ingc07_sS_mU0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16tends10y78t

[loonbird2020-blog]

When ( I’m in stroke) it’s race day Sunday the only time a man can shout at me and I obey !! Hail the Cox !! #training #FitGotReal #ThisGirlCan #TeamWork #NOMAN #GreatPacificRace #sherows #competitive #harkersyardgigseries https://www.instagram.com/p/BpklOV-F3iZn5cKbRWANLxMAH9qWbejBGME6cI0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2yrwgqrz44gq

[loonbird2020-blog]

Look away !!! #ThisGirlCan #FitGotReal #Focus #Training #Goals #endurance #NOMAN #GreatPacificRace bring it on 💪 #Saltmarsh75 damaged toes nails Falling off during a 🏃‍♀️ run. https://www.instagram.com/p/BpbrwzXlcEivrhilCTuWDMA_Po_7wzFeCU1lZE0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14b05rpm3o2dx

[loonbird2020-blog]

Busy November !! All booked RYA SRC Radio course and exam RYA First Aid course and Exam Go Row Indoor Instructor Course and Exam My poor little brain 🧠 x 💕 📖 📖 📖🤪🤪🤪#study #preparation #training #NOMAN #GreatPacificRace #excited #sacrifice #focus #committed #HPV https://www.instagram.com/p/BpZ8uy3ljFXMgXBC-QsrNbxPPwvv-14UBfLzIM0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mdsin4v21fqr

[loonbird2020-blog]

Favourite Shower of the Week after Burnham BootCamp session !! 💪 #burnhambootcamp #training #focus #mondaymotivation #NOMAN #GreatPacificRace #Burpees https://www.instagram.com/p/BpP0WSWFD_PAzmJLnHY_Qb2bMedrIBksdNolN80/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=u1ddutedcogi

[loonbird2020-blog]

Having to question my happy places !! 😆 training this morning in the pouring rain x Rain does not stop outdoor training 💪🤪🤪💪 #motivation #endurance #NOMAN #GreatPacificRace #Saltmarsh75 #happyplaces #happysoul https://www.instagram.com/p/BoEDuDrlp3jx3RAUgTUKgMWUaCnO0Rc499iT3s0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1kiqjc02wwi82

[loonbird2020-blog]

When you write your special leave request from work !! with a start date x and end date ??? Because the reason you give , I am competing in the Great Pacific Race 2020 the Worlds Ultimate Endurance Race ! #GreatPacificRace 2020 just got a whole lot real!! https://www.instagram.com/p/BnjWu7bFS4WO5vq9tQRBliagtrgH7d1-KFRB7A0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1aab1gh99cr

[row4climate-blog]

A real test before the start

This last week has been all about learning. Learning how to row our boat, learning how the electronic system works, learning how to operate the navigation chart plotting system, understanding the safety networks, learning about the water maker, the bilge bump, how to deploy a sea anchor... and that’s just the beginning. Yesterday was the biggest lesson yet. I woke up at 6:00 AM for a 7:00 AM muster and 8:30 start of the prologue race. This was the ultimate test for all the crews before we all depart on the actual race in 2 days. The morning started off foggy with light winds and moderate swell. Here we are leaving the marina.

Here is a live video from the start of the prologue race

https://www.facebook.com/GreatPacificRace/videos/1665758176794243/

We had a good start, leading the way out to the first buoy in the middle of Monterey Bay, a similar course to the one we will be following during the actual race. Along the way the race support team gave us tests like making 4 gallons of water with the water maker, calling on the satellite phone, sending a text on the inreach, and retrieving a buoy as a man-over-board drill. But our biggest test was the weather. As the day progressed the conditions disintegrated. The waves got much larger and wind gusts increased above 30 kts. At some points we had waves completely crashing over the deck and swamping it and we had to be careful not to get washed over board (you can see the harnesses we have to wear in the pictures). I rowed (and used foot steering to hold our coarse) for over 10 hours straight. With the waves and wind pushing us towards land we had to row in all three rowing positions to keep our distance away from land. After a very long day we eventually got back to the marina at 12:30 AM the following day with the help of a support yacht to guide us safely back. Our battle against the strong wind and waves was great practice for the real race. The first week will be a fight to break out of the coastal weather systems pushing us back towards shore. Once we make it through that we will have the wind and waves pushing us towards HI.

[loonbird2020-blog]

A little light night time reading .. Little by little building up skills and knowledge x planning planning and some more ! Still lots to do for both #NOMAN raising funds for #HPV awareness #EndCancer £5000 pledged to raise by 2019 ! And then #GreatPacificRace 2020 #LookingForSponsorship #donate #endurance #learning https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpz-o0dFTLoBNVHYewchoSrsIpGFwlXD9TqXd40/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1v8y2snt1varp