News...

Big step forward

Finally signed an agreement with Oliver to purchase the boat

Boat eval w/ Pavel

Once again, Pavel and myself are back in Oxford for another meeting with Oliver.
After an intense 2 hours, we have decided on the following initial modifications.

Speed meter - remove
GPS - install
SeeMe - remove
Rudder wire - test
Water maker - service
Bilge Pump - remove
Electric Pump - dismantle
Rowing Position - adjust wheelbase
Oars - adjust angle of oars
Wings - take off
Surface - remove stickers, paint, de-fouling
Electrics - testing joints
Ventilator - installation
Squall shield - installation
Splash rail at back of hatch - build
Fiberglass - repair
Spare Battery - de-oxidate
Wind Gauge - needs repair

Pavel's verdict is to go ahead with the purchase. Oliver and myself agree to sign a written contract to purchase the boat, before I leave back to Stockholm.

Official ORS Announcement

We have now officially announced my record attempt on the Ocean Rowing Society website
http://www.oceanrowing.com/

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Status Update

Hello peeps, here is a quick update from London.
Just spent the last 2 days with Rune, going over every single detail on the boat, including the electric panels, watermaker, food, safety equipment. The boat, which was used by Oliver Hicks, in his successful attempt to cross the Atlantic last year from New York to Falmouth, is currently in Bicester, Oxfordshire.

So me and Rune, spent the most of Sunday up in Bister, on the farm working on the boat.

Pavel Rezvoy arrives in London on Wed for further help with the boat.

Next is getting the boat shipped to La Gomera.

Boat eval w/ Rune

Rune and myself spend the morning going over every aspect of the boat.
The hull has a few bruises but apart from that the rudder, the watermaker, the electricity system, the steering system, the water tight compartments, the hatch all look in good condition. However, while Rune has a lot of experience with endurance nutrition and life on an ocean rowing boat, I decide to wait for Pavel's opinion before giving my decision to Oliver.

Who is Pavel Rezvoy?

Next, I needed someone who could give me a credible cost estimate for the work that needed to be done on Olivier's boat in order to prepare for another Atlantic crossing. It was also important that this person's opinion was trusted by Oliver, since I would use the cost estimate to leverage my price negotiations on the boat.

In my search for someone, reliable and experienced in fitting out ocean rowing boats, I also I was introduced to Pavel through Tatiana at the ORS. I was skeptical at first, since I was not sure about the financial relationship between ORS and Pavel.

However, Pavel Rezvoy did seem to have a good track record with ocean rowing boats. An ex-soviet navy service man, he has successfully rowed across the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Indian Ocean. I decide to invite Pavel to fly down to London on the 18th of Jan, to have a look at the boat and give me an estimate on the work to be done on the boat. .

Tight Schedule

Great news, Rune confirms that he can fly out on Friday evening, the 13th of Jan, but will have to be back in Stockholm on the 15th as he has a commitment on Monday morning. In the meanwhile Oliver is in Holland this weekend with the Ocean Fours team and will not be onsite to meet us. However, I manage to make arrangements to visit the boat in Oxford. Its a tight schedule.

CNN.com - Record-breaking storm finally falls apart - Jan 7, 2006

Link: CNN.com - Record-breaking storm finally falls apart - Jan 7, 2006.

Perfect Storm - Timing...the 2005 Atlantic storm season is officially over. Our bet on waiting for a Jan - Feb start date, in anticipation of better weather have paid off.

Trade routes

An interesting map of different trade routes of the world.

Selecting boats

All along, the time pressure on this project has been provided courtesy of the Atlantic hurricane season which starts in July. This means that the crossing must start no later than the 1st of April, leaving about 3 months to cross the Atlantic.The time left to purchase the boat, equip it and test it is short. I have now been in discussions with Oliver Hicks for a while, about purchasing his boat. Oliver attempt to row across the north Atlantic was sponsored by Virgin Atlantic. I felt this itself was a good indication about the quality of the boat. The conditions in the North Atlantic are harsher than in the South. Secondly, purchasing a boat that had been tested in such conditions was more advisable than purchasing a new boat that had no record of sea worthiness. In an intensive session of phone calls, I speak to Tatiana Rezvoy at ORS HQ in London for a second opinion and she recommends purchasing Olives boat. I then give Rune a quick call to see if he is free to catch a flight over the weekend to London to visit the boat. While I value Tatiana's opinion, I would also like Rune to confirm it.