It is now time to take stock and learn those hard lessons that the ocean has sought to teach us, and to use them to improve the chances of those who follow the Pink Lady adventure. We are not whinging or bellyaching - the weather systems this year gave us a hard deal, eventually broke the boat but did not defeat us. We do know for a fact that planning, preparation and good equipment is sending home heroic survivors, not body bags. We also know the debt of gratitude that our team owes to the dedication and skill of others.

In the last 24 hours we have had demonstrated the prowess of our Coastguard service, the professionalism of the RAF and the extreme skill of the skipper and crew of the Scandinavian Reefer. At the same time the families have been surrounded by the love and support of friends and strangers alike from across the globe.

On behalf of the whole team may I pass profound thanks to everone that has worked so hard to move our venture from its inception to being so close to success. We thank the families for putting up with one track dedication and a move from the norms of family life. We thank the sponsors for believing in us. We thank Tina, Nigel and the rest of the team who have helped us to bring the story to you. We thank those, too numerous to name, who have made contributions in kind or personal effort. We thank those that have just taken an interest in our crazy adventure.

We are a bit tatty round the edges now but we refuse to be beaten - the rough places of the world are there to give us adventures. Pass the screech!

Bob

Distance Rowed
Today	To Date	To Go
miles/nm	miles/nm	miles/nm
Pink Lady crew is picked up by Scandinavian Reefer - all are safe.
We are reporting distances rowed in the last 24 hours based on GPS positions relayed from the boat at about 16.30GMT each afternnoon as well as distances from St John's and to Bishop's Rock on the Scillies. The figures given are those for a great circle route (ie the shortest distance between two points on the earth's surface) and not necessarily the distance actually rowed.

Report

0835 - We have just received news that the crew of Pink lady have been picked up by the Scandinavian Reefer, which must have been quite a task in big seas. The only injuries are minor.

Our thanks to all of the agencies concerned including Falmouth Coastguard, the RAF and the skipper and crew of the Scandinavian Reefer.

0245 - Today (August 8 2004) at around 2.45 AM, the four British rowers attempting the fastest crossing from St John’s, Newfoundland to Falmouth, Cornwall alerted the Falmouth Coastguard to the need for a rescue from their position at sea about 370 miles west of Bishop’s Rock Lighthouse.

The distress beacon on the Pink Lady® boat was activated and in turn Falmouth Coastguard scrambled a Nimrod. The boys are currently in a life raft as the boat has split in two in heavy seas. We now await further information about their rescue.

I have spoken to Mark this morning from the boat’s life raft who confirms that the crew are ‘rattled but safe’.

Their current position is 49 28N, 14 30W.

I will provide more news as I have it.

Bob

Weather forecast at 0600GMT 8 August 2004
Here's the satellite-measured winds for 08/0600Z, showing Pink Lady in the highest wind band.

Click on image for larger picture

Lee
Tactical Weather - global adventure meteorology ®