Posted: Jan 20, 2010 09:29 am EST
(TheOceans.net) Solo boat JJ with 47-year old Brit Charlie Pitcher at the oars is leading the fleet.

22-year old independent rower Katie Spotz is making good progress and said she has quickly learned how to cook a meal while being hit by waves.

Katie Spotz – independent rower

After two weeks at sea Katie reported sun-tan, blisters, a few bruises, and that she is “finally beginning to feel like an ocean rowing gal!”

“I’ve quickly learned how to cook a meal while being hit by waves, how to wash my hair with 10 oz of fresh water and, more importantly, how to fit 5,000 calories into my body on a daily basis (and it turns out the latter has proved to be the most difficult).”

In her latest update on 17 January she said unfortunately nothing wildly interesting has happened during the last few days. “Eating, rowing, sleeping. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.”

She added, “The thing about adventures is they can be largely uneventful, but it is those few incredible moments that make it all worth it – can’t wait for more of those moments to come.”

Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race

Britannia III, an out of class record attempt crew, has decided to finish in Bridgetown, Barbados instead of Antigua.

The Race Organisers reported, “This decision was taken based on the current and future weather forecast for the route to Antigua.”

“Throughout the record attempt Britannia III was expected to reach distances of 90-100nm each day. Thus far this has not been possible and while the weather has been favourable, it has not been as beneficial as hypothesised.”

The organisers explained about the quickest route, “The conditions across the Atlantic determine that the quickest route when rowing would be to travel south out of the Canaries.”

“From the lower latitude crews should then pick up stronger winds to help push them to the finish. This naturally adds miles to the official distance, but with stronger prevailing conditions crews will make this extra distance up with increased speed.”

On 3 January 2010 22-year old Katie Spotz set off from Pier 2, Port of Dakar, Senegal (West Africa) to Cayenne, French Guiana. She aims to become the youngest person to row an ocean solo and to become the first American to row from Africa to South America.

The Atlantic Rowing Race is a 2,548 nautical mile race which starts from the port of San Sebastian La Gomera, Canary Islands on Monday 4 January 2010 and finish anytime between 40 and 90 days later in Antigua, West Indies.

The Woodvale Race Organisers reported the following about possible records. “To be recognised as a record a row must be unsupported, that is to say that there is no physical contact or assistance to the boat from anyone other than from the rowers themselves.”

“The Atlantic Ocean record was set by La Mondiale and her crew of fourteen when she left Gran Caneria on 15 December 2007 and reached the Caribbean on 17 January 2008. Britannia III, the out of class 12 man, will be attempting to break this record. To beat the record she will need to reach English Harbour, Antigua on or by 31 January 2010, travelling at an average speed of 3.17 knots (nautical miles per hour) which is the equivalent of 76 nautical miles per day.”

“The fours record stands at 36 days and 59 minutes, the doubles class record is 40 days 5 hours and 31 minutes and the solo record stands at 42 days 14 hours and 30 minutes, although the race record for a solo entry is just shy of 69 days. Crews in these categories will need to surpass an average of 70, 63 and 60 nautical miles per day respectively to claim a new record.”

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