Pink Lady is fully equipped and prepared for its Atlantic crossing. The equipment includes the following...

Power and Water
Because the attempt is unsupported, the crew must carry with them everything they need for the journey. This includes food and the means to make water and electricity. Because each watch of two men will row for two hours and then rest for two, it is vital if they are to get sufficient sleep that all off-duty chores, including cooking, are carried out quickly.

For ease of use the team has chosen freeze-dried food, to which water heated on a small gas stove is added in the bag. Fresh water is made by a powerful de-salinator situated beneath the floor of the main cabin. This uses significant amounts of electricity from the boat’s single 12 volt gel battery, which is recharged by solar panels on the roofs of the cabins.

Because electricity is so vital to the project - powering not only water production but communications, lighting and steering - if this system fails there is a small petrol-driven generator on board which can also recharge the battery.

Steering and Rowing
The boat is fitted with three rowing positions which utilise modified standard sliding seats and Concept oar gates. Under sea pressure these will spring open before an oar breaks. Four sets of oars are carried. Because they can, in the event of a breakage, be used on the left or right side of the boat, the team has opted for old-style “macon” blades instead of hatchet-shaped racing blades. These larger spoons also catch the tops of waves too easily, fouling the stroke.

Normally, only two rowing positions will be used at once - the bow and central stations - keeping the rear area free for the off-duty watch to carry out chores. Each rowing station is fitted with a Plastimo “reverse card” rowing compass, and all members of the watch can see the large, rear-bulkhead-mounted GPS screens day and night, which display course and speed over the ground.

Steering is handled by the rearmost, or “stroke” position rower, who sets the pace, ideally at about 22 strokes per minute. By shifting the heel of his right foot a short distance left or right he activates the hydraulic steering system. If this fails there is a manual back-up steering system, but this would seriously compromise the efficiency of the crew as it would have to be operated by one member of the off-duty watch.

If wind and sea direction and strength reach the point where forward progress can no longer be made in relative safety, the crew will stream a sea anchor which will steady the boat into the seas, slow the rate of drift and allow them to take shelter in the two small cabins. Because this is a record attempt and, to be successful, the boat must be kept moving in the right direction, this action will be taken only as a last resort.

Safety, Navigation and Communications
The boat’s progress will be tracked by a shore-based team via an Argos satellite beacon, which will show its position constantly and is also capable of sending a series of pre-agreed codes.

Day-to-day communications will be handled by Iridium satellite telephone and VHF radio provides ship-to-ship or ship-to-aircraft communications. The boat is also fitted with an Epirb (emergency position indicating beacon) which, in the event of an emergency, signals the boat’s distress via satellite and communicates its precise position to a coastguards in the UK, who are then able to alert the appropriate authorities and shipping in the area.

In case the boat has to be abandoned (likely only if there has been a catastrophic hull failure, perhaps through striking an iceberg or other underwater object) and she is sinking, there is also a four-man aircraft liferaft on board.

Each crew member is equipped with a lifejacket and safety harness, through which he is connected to the boat while on deck, and has a personal safety bag by his rowing station, which contains his immersion suit, personal rescue beacon, a VHF radio, flares and a small amount of food and water.