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http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/dispatchnow/2009/11/24/row-pete-row-countdown-nears-end/
Row, Pete, row! Countdown nears end…
Filed by Jan Hennop on 24-11-2009
The clock is ticking for Peter van Kets, East London’s solo rower in the gruelling Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race which will see teams once again race 5000km across the Atlantic in specially-designed rowing boats.
Last Friday, Van Kets left East London to a huge farewell and has arrived safely with his boat Nyamezela (”Vasbyt”) in La Gomera the Canary Islands, where the race will commence on December 6. He hopes to break the record of 78 days in the row between La Gomera and Antigua in the Caribbean.
Kim van Kets, Peter’s wife, said on Tuesday that Pete’s food, sponsored by a major store in Vincent has also arrived, as well as his “crucial” supply of biltong. She writes the following:
“Everything is packed and they have interior-decorated the cabin with white foam (which will keep him cool and the sound out).
“They are in the process of organising his medical kit. On Tuesday at 11h00, Peter will undergo his medical scrutineering.
He discovered a few missing items and had an interesting shopping spree in the local pharmacy trying to explain in Spanish that he needs vaseline, an eye bath and tough cut scissors! Most of the boats and competitors have arrived and the mood is tensely festive!”
Our readers will remember how we followed the progress of Van Kets and his rowing partner Bill Godfrey – who won the 2007/2008 Woodvale challenge in their first race. From now onwards, the DispatchOnline team will closely monitor Van Kets’ progress and will keep our readers updated with the latest information on our Atlantic hero. Like many others, we’ll be cheering Pete on!
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An interview with Pete was flighted on Supersport Blitz 23 November 2009
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Daily Dispatch 20 November 2009
| Setting out to tame the Atlantic demon |
| PETE GO FOR IT: Peter van Kets with children from the Carel du Toit School for the Deaf, who presented him with a good luck banner on Wednesday for his solo adventure across the Atlantic that starts on December 5. The school will receive money raised from the race. Picture: PHILLIP NOTHNAGEL AHEAD lies the expanse of the mighty Atlantic Ocean, unpredictable weather, gale-force winds, storms, giant waves and swells, blazing sun and endless days of pain and loneliness. All of this awaits East London adventurer Peter van Kets, who in two weeks’ time, on December 6, sets off on his own to row across the Atlantic. The race begins in San Sebastian, La Gomera in the Canary islands and ends in Antigua in the Caribbean, some 5 000km away. This is the second time Van Kets will be crossing the Atlantic, having done so with fellow East Londoner Bill Godfrey in 2007/8. The pair emerged heroes after winning the pairs section of the Woodvale Atlantic Race. An excited Van Kets left today from East London Airport for Tenerife in the Canary Islands via Johannesburg and London, where his carbon-fibre craft, Nyamezela – which means in Xhosa vernacular, to push through tough times – waits for him. Nyamezela, specially built and fitted out in Cape Town, will be Van Kets’s home away from home for 50 to 120 days, depending on how he fares during the race. Van Kets says he is hoping to shatter the standing solo record of 78 days. Of huge relief to Van Kets is the fact that his boat has been cleared by customs and on Wednesday was on board a barge heading for the start. More relief came in the form of manager Cliff Coombe, who arrived on Wednesday from Hermanus, near Cape Town. Nyamezela will undergo further tests in La Gomera and two further instruments still need to be fitted to the craft. Also on board Nyamezela will be four cameras that will record every second of Van Kets’s epic attempt, one of which will be waterproofed, allowing him to film under water. Van Kets admits to feeling nervous. “I have butterflies but not for myself but rather for my wife Kim and daughter Hannah. I will keep wondering if they will be OK while I’m away. They won’t be there to see me off at the start as it’s very traumatic. They will be there to meet me at race end.’’ Van Kets added he still hoped to put on three kilograms. “I weigh 89kg at the moment but will lose a lot of weight while at sea. Once I come down to 70kg problems will set in and I’ll become weaker,’’ he explained. During his first crossing Van Kets shed 18kg. Though the race starts on December 6, Van Kets said his race had started as early as February this year already. “Millions and millions of things had to be seen to. Having Cliff around will be a great help and in the last few days I want to focus, race and survive.’’ The plan, according to Van Kets, is for him to use the first two-thirds of the race to pace himself and then push hard during the last stretch. He’ll row for 90 minutes and take 90 minutes off for the first two-thirds of the crossing, then shorten his rest periods to one hour. He also expects to be sea-sick for the first three days but not as stressed as in his first crossing. He will be in contact with Kim once a day via satellite phone, of which two will be on board in case one gets damaged or washed away. To follow Van Kets’s progress visit www.rowpeterow.co.za or www.own-your-life.co.za Readers can personally receive text messages on their cellphones from Van Kets when he leaves the Canary Islands, and at the same time support his charity of choice, the Carel du Toit School for the Deaf. The package is R50 for one sms every second day and R100 for a daily sms. Included in updates will be weather conditions, race news, total distance covered, distance still to go, and comments from Van Kets. Phone us on 072 753 0900 for more details. - By BRIAN McLEAN SOLO ROWERS VAN KETS WILL BE UP AGAINST Charlie Pitcher, United Kingdom (InsureandGo) James Ketchell, United Kingdom Lee McNamara, United Kingom (2Hopes) Leo Rosette, United States (Halcyon) Sean McGowan, Ireland (Tess) David Brooks, United Kingdom |
Article on CrazyJourneys.com
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Popular Mechanics 16 November 2009 - article by Sean Woods
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Daily Dispatch 5 November 2009 - Brian McLean delved into how Pete’s been training for the race
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ETV News Tuesday 3 November 2009 - live TV interview
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Daily Dispatch 30 Oct 09 - Pete chatted to Brian McLean about trialling Nyamezela
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Classic FM 23 September 2009 - interview with David Gleason
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Cape Argus 20 October 2009 - article by Murray Williams
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