Different Strokes...Literally

Before I get going on the topic for today, I'd just like to say that Elizabeth's and Roger's boat is Energy. I'm glad we got that cleared up.

There are several ways to get to this island. You can fly, you can sail, you can motor, you could take a ferry from one of the other islands, or you can...row. Our friend, Tot Club member Tiny Little from Norwich, rowed here solo back in 2005. A big man, by the time he arrived, he was a shadow of his former self.

We've recently had an influx of rowers, and not, as you might imagine, from nearby islands. These rowers set off back in December from the Canaries. Fourteen boats left and three have arrived, one single-handed (or maybe it was a two-man) boat and two four-man boats. They are part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Rowing Challenge 2013. It is unclear whether any others will arrive or if they have given it up as a bad job. Apparently there were severe storms all the way across.

The first boat arrived a week before the second boat, sailed by a bunch of polo players. The design of the first-place boat is very innovative, very unlike the others and very fast, hence his domination. It is expected that all boats will look like his next time around.

On Tuesday, January 21, boat number two arrived just as we were preparing to come ashore for breakfast. A cluster of small boats was outside the reef, including the Antigua Coast Guard RIB. In the midst were the rowers, who always insist on rowing right to the dock wall though a tow could certainly be arranged. After 47 days, what's another five minutes? As they entered the harbour, all the boats blared their airhorns, dozens of small craft came out to join the escort, and the dockyard denizens lined the harbour to cheer the lads on. Parents, family and friends reached down to hug and hold the brave rowers.

Passing the reef at the entrance to English Harbour.

Boats' horns, flares, cheering, pandemonium...a hero's welcome.

A small matter of running aground at the Dockyard wall

meant a little splashing about to complete arrival.

Later that evening, at about 7 p.m., the second four-man boat arrived. This was particularly special as it was crewed by a team of British Armed Forces lads two of whom had suffered grievous injury while serving. Arriving as they did after dark, they had no expectation of any kind of reception. They thought they'd just get out of their boat and go to their hotel. Hah! The dock was 10 deep in cheering screaming adoring crowds, the airhorns and whistles blew nonstop, flares were set off, flags bearing their logo Row2Recovery flew wildly. They were utterly gobsmacked (and, it should be added) delighted. Interviewed, lionized, televised...it was ages before they got that lovely first beer.

(I have no photos from this group's arrival, though you can see them on the Talisker Challenge Web site looking, well, fabulously happy.)