Q1 - What training is required?
A1 - Cardiovascular fitness will be of utmost importance to me during this challenge. I plan to spend 20 to 25 hours a week training from 1st September 2004. Most of this will be long endurance-type work. Much of this will be completed in the gym. A training schedule will be up on the site soon so keep coming back to follow my progress.
Q2 - What equipment is carried onboard?
A2 - The rules of the race mean that there is a minimum amount of equipment that can be taken. These include standard safety items such as life jacket, liferaft, EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon), VHF radio (line of sight) and a medical kit. In addition to this, most boats now carry a satellite phone, laptop computer, GPS (Global Positioning System), ARGOS (another positioning beacon), cooker, water desalinator, MP3 player etc... See the full kit list up here soon.
Q3 - Where will you sleep?
A3 - The forward cabin of the boat is designed so that I can sleep in it. The compartment is watertight and so is also used as a retreat when rowing in storms.
Q4 - How is drinking water made?
A4 - I will carry a water desalinator which turns sea water into drinking water. I will also carry a large supply of fresh water (100L).
Q5 - How is the electrical equipment powered?
A5 - All the electricity for the boat is generated by a series of solar panels fixed to the cabin roofs and gunwales.
Q6 - How long will it take?
A6 - The solo record is 42 days 14 hours 32 minutes. I aim to beat this but the wind, waves and weather can combine to make this record impossible to break. On average solo oarsmen take between 60 and 100 days.
Q - Toilet??
A - Bucket......and chuck it!
