Indian Ocean Rowing Race

Apologies it has taken me so long to put finger to keyboard and update you on the goings on within the RFP team but since arriving on the cherished lands of Mauritius i have had to undergo various physical and mentral repairs which have sadly meant it has been a tad difficult to get to a computer, let alone to type anything even slightly legible. Thankfully the local hopsitality, coupled with the repair work from the local medics has coinfirmed my ailments are not terminal and both body and mind are now well on the way to full recovery, so i thought it high time i gave you an insight in to our final few hours at sea, and the highly anticipated arrival on the fair shores of Mauritius.

Before i crack on with this i also want to apologise for the silence over the final 2 weeks of our journey when G'Pa and the FRP crew went 'missing'. I am not going to go in to details as to what happened during this time right now but assure you this will be published over the coming weeks - suffice to say this was an eventful passage of the jorney including a capsize, two close encounters with tankers and more emotional and physical turmoil than i think any of us ever thought we could deal with, right up to and including the final traumatic night at sea before our entry in to Mauritius. Anyway this is all to come but for now i will focus on the magic moments that signalled an end to one dream and the start of many others...

Having made an express final approach down to within touching distance of Mauritius, covering some 70+ miles in our penultimate day we decided to delay our final entry in to the port of Grand Baie until the morning of day 82. Why? Well a host of reasons really including the obvious dangers posed by the reef system surrounding the island, the potency of the currents which fluctuated between 2 - 5 knots against and (of course) our desire to have all our families at the finish...which in hindsight was definitely the right call as there's a good chance most of our families and friends would have forgotten 'the moment' the morning after the night before given the antics that apparently went on that night!

Once again we had the moon to keep us company and to help guide us to a place of refuge some 10-15 miles out from the finish line and it was here that we 'camped' the night - frustratingly close to the end where the lights shone so brightly in the distance and the lure of 'the end' proved such an irresistable temptation to all of us. Despite our desperation to finish sense prevailed and for one final time we battled the waves and the currents to set up an eventful final approach on the Thursday, thankfully aided by the services of the support yacht, Desiderata 11 - so eventful that it could (and probably/possibly would have) so easily have ended in the cruellest of fashions had they not appeared when they did...but that's another story for another blog...and not one i fancy recounting without a stiff drink in hand.

When we set out from Gerladton on 19th April everything seemed so simple. According to most other ocean rowers the tough part had been completed and the rowing was to be the straight forward bit - mmm how wrong they had been. So much for the 60-70 day crossing that we had planned and so much for the simple, uncomplicated crossing that we had all dreamed. This had been an absolute mine field of emotions, and a catalogue full of experiences beyond our wildest dreams...and nightmares...including a physical and emotional test way beyond anything we could have ever prepared ourselves for - but as i've said so many times before, i wouldn't have changed any of it for the world. We set out some 81 days ago safe in the knowledge that we were entering a world we knew very little about and what bit we did know would be of little assistance in a world where mother nature could and would be so unpredictable - so beautiful on the one hand, yet so desperately ugly on the other. That said, here we were staring down the neck of completing our mission on the brink of becoming the first southern hempisphere team to ever cross this stretch of water...now that's what dreams are made of and for us this dream was very much still alive.

It was about 4am by the time Vince, Mark and Brendan appeared like a mirage across the water. We had struggled in vain to make contact with the coastguard all night and quite rightly there weren't any other vessels out there to pick up our cries of help which meant we spent a very lonely, and i might add slightly concerning last night out at sea - suffice to say the gremlins of self doubt were out in force once AGAIN! When the support crew eventually managed to track us down the relief within the camp was extraordinary - suddenly the dream really did seem alive. Given they had no idea if we had actually made it down to the vicinity of the Mauritius it was a minor miracle they found us and once again i want to express my sincere gratitude to them for getting out of bed at this ungodly hour to scour the angry seas around Mauritius for us. We had encountered so many knocks during the crossing and there had been so many twists of fate that optimism was a word we could ill afford to talk of let alone believe in by now, so to see the yacht turn up was just incredible, and to see otyher human beings for the first time quite amazing - only thing missing was a beautiful blond, or brunette (or any other form of female for that matter)...oops i digress.

Not surprisingly Vince and the crew were as they had always been, all very encouraging but also desperately relaxed and calm about the situation which provided us with a huge boost as any concerns re our position and the proximity to the reef and finishing line were removed and replaced with a refreshing optimism (yes the 'o' word was back and here to stay!) that we were actually in pretty good shape...although the looks on their faces suggested our facial hair was worse than we had all come to imagine (don't forget we didn't have a miirror on board so this was all to be a nice surprise not just for families but also for us!).

Anyway Vince and co then ably escorted G'Pa on our final journey to the finish line, a passage we had been so paranoid about missing for every second of every day over the past 2 weeks. Pete and I took to the oars to set up the final assault and then handed over to Tom and Matt to row the final 2 miles. We had no idea what to expect in terms of finish but one thing was for sure, it would only happen the once and we wanted to look our best. With that in mind we all donned our number ones, the Canterbury kit including the Ionx tops and bottoms, quick dry shirts and shorts with Maui Jim sunnies topped off with the accessory all ocean rowers should have, a Fujifilm camera around the neck! We may not have been first across the line but we were going to make damn sure we were the smartest. While Tom and Matt rowed the final few metres Pete and I held aloft the NZ and Mauritius flag...all in anticipation of the crowds and hordes of media that would be there on the finish line to greet us in. Mmmm isn't it funny how different reality can be...

So it was at 11.02am (07.02 GMT) team RFP crosed the finish line, the dream complete the challenge finished and the 20 month journey over. The irony to the finish was that where the journey had been so full of drama yet the finish was a complete anti climax. The only people there to witness the crossing were our new found heroes on the support yacht and but for a shriek from the fog horn we would never have known the 3,166 nautical mile journey had finished. There we were all dressed to the nines and no-one to witness it, not even the race organisers...where i had to ask was the finishing line tape, where was the champagne and most importantly where was the chocolate? On reflection this was the perfect ending to what had been anything but the perfect crossing - it was just us and us alone, and this is just how it should have been. For 81 days it had just been the four us, and the last 2 weeks the 4 of us with no contact from the outside world, and so to cross the line with no one but ourselves to focus on was probably fitting and if anything all the more powerful. Like so much of the crossing there was no fuss, no frills just the four of us getting on with the job in hand and our celebrations were no different - yes there was heart felt relief and yes there were hugs and high fives but we didn't need the theatrics to understand what we had just achieved, we had 81 days of hard hitting memories to remind us of that, for now it was just 4 normal blokes giving each other that mutual nod of respect...and that's all that was needed. We knew the scenes awaiting around the corner would be so so different but for now the smiles and hand shakes were perfect...

So having crossed the line the suppot crew gave us the option of rowing to the Marina where the families were awaiting or we could be towed. Mmm what to do? Well there was only one option really and that was to row it, we had afterall rowed all the way from Oz so what was another 2 or 3 miles....well actually the remaining 2 or 3 miles would have taken us about 2 days thanks to a more than lively head wind so after 2 hours of toil where we gained about 400 metres we succumbed to their kind invitation and agreed to be towed to a marker point where Tony from Woodvale would be waiting to guide us in! As a team we desperately wanted to row in to the Marina but given we had put our families through living hell over the past 81 days (and especially the past 2 weeks) we all agreed the right thing to do was to get it over with, eat humble pie and take the easy route in...and I for one knew the choclate muffins would be melting if we hung around any longer.

So our entry in the Grand Baie Yacht Club Mrina wasn't quite how we had imagined it but then no part of the crossing had gone according to plan so what did it matter. Over the past 81 days i think all the boys had long made pictures in their minds about what the welcome would be like and I for on had a very definite image of every last detail, even though i had no idea what the venue looked like. Incredibly every last detail of my ideal finish was realised, from the idylic setting to the hordes of family and friends who were lining the shore to welcome us in, all cheering, crying, leaping up and down - in so many ways it was like a scene from a crazed zoo, so many noises and so many entangled cries of joy. As we approached the dots we could see on the shore became bigger and gradually the faces clearer and the cries of support less muffled. This was what the past 20 months had been all about - forget the journey we had been on and forget the dramas and emotions we as a team had experienced, this was what the entire experience had been about for me, sharing the moment with my family and those of my 3 amazing crew mates. For 81/82 long hard days these faces adorning the shore had been all but a dream for us and for the past 2 weeks a dream that at times we thought we may never realise. None of us knew exactly who would be here so the pressure valve was at bursting point...

Many ex ocean rowers say the finish is all a bit of a blur, well it wasn't for me and the sights and sounds of that arrival will live with me forever. Seeing my nephew and niece with their FRP shirts on and hearing their unmistakable shrieks from the shore line, first setting eyes on my mum and dad standing their so proud with hands aloft and smiles beaming from ear to ear, seeing Nick and Fi doing what Nick nd Fi do best jumping up and down like crazed kids...oh it was all just so amazing, so liberating, so desperately satisfying but also so unbelievably emotional. The waiting was finally over, not for me but for them and now the heartache, all the sleepless nights and the agonising phone calls from worried friends who had seen us disappear off to the South Pole and then 'disappear' altogether would be no more. The waiting was over, the journey for us and for them had finally come to an end and now it was time for that communal hug and that long awaited drink.

Then there was Bex, the rock of our campaign and the fifth rower who had the far more difficult job of staying at home to witness the drama unfold via the pc and the sat phone - and on top of this had the task of managaing the families, managing the media and managing us as we went through our roller coaster ride. There she was just as she had been all along, beaming with pride and bustling with joy...my it was good to see her. And finally just the sights and sounds of all the the other familes and supporters who had made the trip - the Hampels, the Wigrams, the Herrons, the Angels and so many others...it was just insane...insanely wonderful.

As we docked it was then this fairy tale all became so real - this really was happening and we really had finished this epic journey and now it was time to enjoy the moment with those people closest to us. What I hadn't realiised at this stage was that there was another little surprise awaiting...in the form of my two best mates Fred and Bluey (and Mrs Bluey, the lovely Ems) who had flown all the way out to see us come in, something i was not prepared for but which meant the world and for which i will be eternally grateful for as it topped off a truly incredible journey.

Not surprisingly we got off the boat and everything was just perfect - from the banners that adorned the Yacht Club, to the endless messages of suppoort and congratulations from around the world that plastererd the walls it was like your dream venue for your dream party. Then there was the food, something that had occupied all of our thoughts for the past month and as per everything nelse al our hopes and dreams were fulfilled as we were greeted by a table fit for a king's banquet with every single last favourite food of each crew member there laid out on a table waiting to be devoured. Put simply the arrival that awaited us in the Yacht Club was like nothing we could have ever imagined and i for one was completely blown away with the effort that had gone in to making this so special. On that note a very special and MASSIVE thanks to all our families and friends who got up so early to deck out our new home and make this moment such a special one for Tom, Matt, Pete and myself (especially the leader of the orchestra, the one and only Bex who had her work cut out trying to stop Wilfy and Polly eating all the goodies!).

So the champagne flowed, the tears rolled down the cheeks (contrary to what you may think real men can and do cry - even my dad let a couple of drops go) and the celebrations started. The sight of all the families and friends was something i find hard to explain, or at least the feelings i and i'm sure the rest of the boys felt, are hard to put in to words. We know we have put so many people through so much over the past 20 months and that they have all stuck with us through thick and thin and then given up so much to come and witness our arrival would break even the hardest, coldest of individuals and given i'm a bit of a wet blanket at heart the emotions went in to over drive...and if i'm honest one week on i'm still getting to grips with them.

So once the hysteria had settled and we had all steadied the legs it was then off to the yacht Club to do what we had so craved for so long...that reunion with chocolate which i had spoken about and dreamed of for so long. Three muffins, eight choclate bars and a cold pint of lager later and i was ready for the media interviews and to answer those 'interesting' questions about how we were 'dead' but were now alive! Clearly the boys and I had a lot of catching up to do on what had happened over the past 2 weeks and i look forward to filling you all in with all the goss around this difficult period of the campaign.

For now my friends i must love you and leave you as the sun is out, the lounger all made up and it's off to never never land to try and make sense of what has been a journey like none other i've experienced before. The crew have lost a total in excess of 90kgs between us so those toned pumped up bods that we were hoping to display on the fine sands of Mauritius need a little inflating, and I for one look more like a punch drunk deflated chicken that you wouldn't look twice at if trying to feed your family. Bodytech Viaduct (and our culinary supporters at HQ) sure have their work cut out when we get back to put these 4 bodies back to normal working order but if their efforts in the lead up are anything to go by then we should be back to normal sometime soon - and i for one have got off to a flyer out here devouring more than my fair share of the buffets.

I will be back in due course but for now it's goodbye from team RFP and thank you once again for all your ubelievable support over the past 82 days, we could not have done it without you...something i know i have siad many times before but something i will keep saying as long as i keep talking about this journey. I will miss the blogs and I will miss the friendships that have developed over the course of the crossing but hope and pray to meet up with as many of you as possible over the coming months to share the memories that you have all played such a big part in creating, and celebrating the huge strides made in improving awareness of what we must not forget was at the centre of this challenge...prostate cancer.

We love you all.

p.s any one up for the Pacific...i'm told that can be quite a lively crossing as well (that's a joke mum)?

THEY'VE ONLY GONE AND BLOODY DONE IT!

The NZ Rowing team ‘Rowing for Prostate’ who lost contact with shore 10 days ago today snatched second place in the inaugural Indian Ocean
Rowing Race 2009. Against all the odds, the team, completed the last few hundred miles of the race under stealth mode.

Kiwis, Tom Wigram (31), Pete Staples (38), Billy Gammon (35) and
Matthew Hampel (34) left Geraldton, Western Australia on 19 April
2009 together with nine other crews, all aiming to row a mammoth 3,132
nautical miles to the beautiful Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. At
7.01 GMT today, the Rowing for Prostate crew reappeared, rowing their
29ft long purposely built, composite ocean rowing boat proudly over
the finish line and up to the Grand Bay Yacht Club, where their
emotional family and friends where eagerly waiting to greet them.

The team confirmed that the lack of contact over the past 10 days had
been due to a fault with the battery of their satellite phone. During
the time since race organisers last had contact with the crew they
have faced some severe weather conditions and overcome many challenges
including broken seat rails, a capsize and extreme food rationing.

Rowing for Prostate crew member Billy Gammon comments: “The past 2
years of planning this challenge have provided the most amazing
journey of our lives. When we took up the opportunity to take on the
Indian i don't think any of us knew exactly what we were letting
ourselves in for but after 81 days of high drama, adrenaline fuelled
adventure and an emotional rollercoaster it is an experience and an
adventure we will all look back on with enormous pride, not to mention
great satisfaction in completing - suffice to say the Indian lived up
to its reputaion as being one of the most trecherous, not to mention
unpredictable stretches of water in the world.

The feeling of pure euphoria on completing the crossing is hard to
explain but we could not have done this without the amazing support
and encouragement from so many friends, sponsors and complete
strangers who have followed our story across New Zealand and the
UK...not to mention some 19 other countries across the world. We have
been humbled by all the support over the past 18 months and are
absolutely delighted by the huge awareness and funds that have been
generated for our chosen charity, prostate cancer, a cause that is
very close to our hearts.We hope this epic journey of ours will have
helped to put prostate cancer on the map in the ongoing struggle to
combat a disaease that is fast becoming man's number one killer.

During the team’s 2 year campaign leading up to and including their
epic journey they have worked relentlessly to raise valuable funds and
awareness for Prostate Cancer Charities in both the UK and New
Zealand.

Simon Chalk, Managing Director of Woodvale Challenge Ltd comments:
“Many congratulations to the crew of Rowing for Prostate on taking
second place in the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009.

“Rowing 3,132nm in 81 days is an amazing achievement and to use a
challenge such as this for the purposes of raising funds for charity
organisations is extremely honorable. Each and every crew that took
part in the Indian Ocean Rowing Race has done exactly this, raising
thousands of pounds for a wide range of charities. Well done to them
all.”

Woohooo!!!! At around 1700 hrs today (Mauritius time) a local coastguard patrol plane made contact with the team! They reported back to Tony at race HQ that the boys sounded well and that all crew were safe and then passed on their latest position which sees them at just over 300 nautical miles to go. We all breathed a huge sigh of relief upon getting the call from Tony and can now relax that our boys are well on their way to their incredibly well deserved welcome. A pic from the plane below x

Hi Everyone,
You may or may not have heard that we have not had any contact with the boys since Saturday 27 June lunchtime. So firstly, our apologies for the lack of update blogs.
The progress of all teams is recorded on the event organiser, Woodvale Challenge website, via Satellite tracking beacons located on each of the boats. As you know, the Satellite tracking system that sends the boy’s location to Woodvale stopped working some time ago and since then we haven’t been able to get their exact position. To keep the site updated with the team’s progress we’ve been reliant on the boys texting their updates through to Tony at Woodvale on a 12 hourly basis and Tony then updates the Woodvale site manually.
Over the past week, the team have experienced trouble charging their satellite phone and had advised Woodvale that they felt it was only a matter of time before their phone ceased to work altogether. We believe the cause of the problem to be the phone battery and not the power onboard the boat. Although we know the route the team are taking, with the phone and the satellite tracking beacon not working we are unable to determine their exact position at this time.
Woodvale, as always, have been amazing and although they are not concerned with the lack of contact from the boys, Woodvale’s primary focus is the safety of the teams. Monday night (NZ time) Woodvale requested the Support Yacht to make for the boy’s last known position which was just under 500 nautical miles from Mauritius and the finish line. It will take two or three days to reach this point and when it does it will follow the boat’s suspected path in the hope of making contact with the team and updating us of their position. The boat also has a VHF radio so it is possible the team can make contact with a passing vessel and send their position in that way, but the reality is that they may not see another vessel before reaching the finish line so we are preparing ourselves for a surprise finish!
Our boys are in good spirits and have been through extensive training to prepare for this race. The boat carries two EPIRBs (emergency position indicating radio beacon) onboard and should an emergency occur they can set these off which will transmit a ‘May Day’ message via satellite to advise of their position.
So don’t worry, they have already overcome so many hurdles throughout this challenge that I feel sure they will overcome this one in true RFP style…although we all know how much it will be killing them to not be able to update us on their progress!
You can read more about this here on the Woodvale site.
Please keep the messages flying in, even if they cant see them right now they will take huge strength from them as and when they get online again and to know that you are thinking of them and willing them on will be very powerful.
If you would like to leave a message on the Woodvale site click here and if you are in NZ and would like to send them a text please send it to 3831 and $3 will automatically be donated to the cause via your phone bill.
Ill keep you updated here.
Bex

Latest Yachtpals Article!

1000 Miles to go Picture!

Press!

Click on the links below to read articles on the RFP team

Interview with the boys on Radio Devon You'll need to ffwd along to approx 2:49:30
Ocean of Challenge BBC Radio Cornwall cover the RFP story including an interview with Billy from the Ocean

Hamish and Kim raise $10K for RFP!

Good friends of team RFP, Hamish Ludbrook and Kim Marshall have raised $10,000 for RFP with the support of the town of Wanaka! Hamish vowed that he would row on the streets of Wanaka everyday for 2 hours until he had raised the money in donations...the generous townfolk made sure he didnt have to row for too long in the cold and within 2 weeks he was able to hang up his virtual oars and get back to the warm! Hamish was assisted by his very capable campaign manager (and partner) Kim Marshall who made sure that Hamish and RFP stayed top of mind for everyone throughout the 2 week period.
Click on the articles below to read more.

Rower takes good cause further afield
Lone rower supporting mate's efforts

The Prime Minister calls RFP!
We were lucky enough to have a prime stand at theis year's New Zealand Boat Show whcih was kindly donated to us by Radio Sport and the Boat Show organisers themselves! It was a fantastic few days and we raised lots of money for RFP as well as chatting to lots of fantastic people. Many of whom already knew all about the challenge!
The highlight of the show has to have been the official opening whcih just so happened to be at our stand and conducted by our New Zealand Prime Minister John Key!
The Prime Minister gave the team a call a call and chatted away to Billy for about 10 minutes all about chicken and chocolate (of course!) he even had a few suggestions for saving power and invited the team to come and see him when back in New Zealand!

TVNZ Coverage of the Race Start

Click here to view the news article on the start of the race!

We're on the water!

Yep we did it...we survived our two week lead up to the race in Geraldton and despite a wealth of trials, tribulations and challenges we made it to the start line and are now well on our way to Mauritius....you can catch up with how we're going by clicking on the blog section at the top of the page to read our updates or by clicking here.
To check out some photos from our time in Geraldton and the rest of the campaign click here and to track our progress in the race and to leave us a message of support click here

Team RFP finally touchdown in Geraldton!

After a mammoth journey we are pleased to announce that the Rowing for Prostate team have made it to the start line of the Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009...or at least we've made it to the town where the race is starting from!... Check out the blog section of the website for regular updates from the team, and enjoy some of our latest pictures by clicking here

RFP farewell bash - Saturday 28th March, HQ, Auckland.

The team's waistline sponsors, HQ hosted our final NZ event...the big farewell bash. Apart from legitimising a few (??) final slurps of ale it gave us an opportunity to say a heart felt thank you to all the amazing sponsors and supporters who have done so much for us over the past 18 months and who have been so instrumental in turning this pipe dream in to a reality. After so many ups and downs, highs and lows, this was always going to be a lively affair and so it was the curtain didn't come down on the event until well past any normal 'athletes' bedtimes - probably not in the training 101 manual but a much needed release!

There have been so many humbling experiences throughout this campaign and this event was to be no different. Whilst it was not principally a fundraiser, yet again we were blown away by the generosity of all of those who attended and who together helped raise nearly $2,000. Special mention should go to Chris Weaver for donating a signed All Blacks Ball from the 1996 'unconquerables' team, and Hamish & Kim who put up 2 nights accomodation in Wannaka for 6 people for the raffle - absolute legends.

DJ Mike was on the decks where Swampy, in his own very unique style made the dancefloor his own...no surprise there.

Highlights of the night included:

Di tearing it up on the dancefloor and giving Swamps a much needed run for his money
Kevin Biggar...just for being Kevin Biggar.
Cal making a particularly unfraceful exit from her chair...nothing to do with the tequila apparently
Monga's protruded bottom lip post being rejected by Petrea!
Billy's left field tangent about chickens...some things are best kept to yourself Bills.
Hamish and his 'interesting' stag outfit
Hughsey's alpha male look of disgust when hearing he had won the Dr.LeWinns skin care range...eventually won by a delighted Chas Toogood, clearly more accepting of his metrosexual side.
Chas and Di's surprise cake...mmm lots more calories
Matt staying out until past midnight.

Lowlights:

Pete for changing his work schedule so he could shirk ale yet again - a vital ingredient of our training and yet further evidence that he may infact be the light weight his mates keep talking about!
An episode with a small angry man in Star Mart
Tom & Bex being turned down for 2 x Boss Burgers on their way home because the golden arches were only serving breakfast!
The morning after the night before.

Our thanks to all those who attended and especially to the HQ team for putting on such a top night including an amazing spread...yet again their dedication to helping us rowers expand our waistlines was quite magnificent. If you'd like to see the photographic evidence please click here

Next up...Ozzie here we come (only 21 days to race day).

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