Update from Cliff 25 Nov 09
25/Nov/09 22:29 Filed in: Nyamezela
Yesterday (Tuesday) was a good day as far as boat prep and getting Pete closer to his goal … rowing!
We started the day by placing the scuppers. These are small covers that go over the draining holes made in the deck so that if water should, and it will, come onto the deck it can drain out through special holes. The scuppers are like valve flaps that stop the sea from coming back into the boat. While Pete did that I finished off strapping his dankie tannie packets (the black bags in the photo). They needed to be tightly taped closed so his treats aren’t ruined if there’s a capsize.
By the time that was done it was time to do our medical kit scrutiny. This is done by the race owner and organiser’s mother. She is a registered nurse and a very sweet lady. The process was simple - we had been given a list of requirements and we had to make sure we had all the medication, bandages and equipment to help him should something go wrong. It is interesting that there is a lot of emphasis placed on fungus prevention - clearly because as an ocean rower you are pretty much wet all the time. In a previous race a team of four rowers had to pull out because they all such bad athlete’s foot their lives were in danger! To my surprise there was very little emphasis on trauma stuff. I would have included suture material - the list included steristrips but not artery clamps. Both of these are to stop big cuts. I am glad though that Liberty Nyamezela has everything we can think of padded and covered so that Pete has little chance of cutting himself.
Anyway, as far as the medical kit was concerned we found out we were missing a low-reading rectal thermometer. This is used to check for hypothermia. We initiated a hunt back in Cape Town but it seems they’re not widely available. We eventually went back and said as much, and were directed to a team who had two rectal thermometers and no normal one. We’ve arranged a swap that will be in everyone’s interests. Just have to ‘import’ a normal thermometer now.
After that we spent the rest of another hot day placing the two fire extinguishers: one inside the cabin and one outside in the foot well just outside the cabin.
The cabin bilge pump was fitted next - the pump inlet is on the roof and is used in case of a capsize. If this happens and a hatch is open the cabin will fill with water. The pump enables the rower to pump the roof dry and right the boat. Fitting this turned out to be a little more challenging than expected. The hose we had bought along was too small so off we went to the local hardware store to get a bigger one. This then meant that the drill bit Pete had brought was too small. However, after much huffing and puffing the boere made a plan and we heated the new pipe with Pete’s gas cooker and managed to force it through the smaller hole. The final result was better than we could have imagined - a large hose in a small hole and no chance of a leak.
That done we then got on to fitting the bags which are attached to the walls inside the cabin and act as a sort of kangaroo pouch to keep cloths and stuff close at hand. Disaster! After we had fitted them we noticed that Pete had drilled holes right through the boat and we had two screws sticking out. Fortunately it was quick to repair by borrowing some filler putty from our neighbours and our holey boat was fixed. A neatly placed reflective sticker hides the repair!
The last chore yesterday was spent packing the boat with the dankie tannie packets. They are all stowed in the large floor hatch under Pete’s bed.
The heat is really bad here but the most amazing thing is we can spend the whole day in the sun without a T-shirt and not get a tan at all. The sun is simply not as vicious as it is in South Africa!
We finished the day with our usual swim in the sea and an ice cold beer at the local pub run by Manuel. He is a legend amongst the rowers and warmly welcomes them. His pub is full of race history and a SA flag hangs on the wall with Pete and Bill’s names below it (after their win in 07/08)!
Today (Wednesday) will be a biggie. We are going to unpack the entire boat of all its equipment and make sure that, when our turn comes to be checked, we have it all. No doubt there are going to be a few ‘oh **** ‘ moments. Let’s hope it doesn’t require another La Gomera treasure hunt. We are holding thumbs that we did our groundwork. To date it has been a well-planned campaign.
The sun has now risen and it’s another beautiful day in La Gomera. I must go now and make Pete his sandwiches and food to make him big and strong. Today it’s avo sandwiches again and local sausage with fruit and knock-you-dead brownies from Home! I’ll also ensure Pete has his two bone and joint building tabs and make some breakfast - how’s that for service?
Pete is getting all his emails and good wishes. It is part of our ritual to sit in Manuel’s pub, beer in hand, checking emails from home. Pete says keep them coming. It’s just there is no time to reply to them all but we will try.
We started the day by placing the scuppers. These are small covers that go over the draining holes made in the deck so that if water should, and it will, come onto the deck it can drain out through special holes. The scuppers are like valve flaps that stop the sea from coming back into the boat. While Pete did that I finished off strapping his dankie tannie packets (the black bags in the photo). They needed to be tightly taped closed so his treats aren’t ruined if there’s a capsize.
By the time that was done it was time to do our medical kit scrutiny. This is done by the race owner and organiser’s mother. She is a registered nurse and a very sweet lady. The process was simple - we had been given a list of requirements and we had to make sure we had all the medication, bandages and equipment to help him should something go wrong. It is interesting that there is a lot of emphasis placed on fungus prevention - clearly because as an ocean rower you are pretty much wet all the time. In a previous race a team of four rowers had to pull out because they all such bad athlete’s foot their lives were in danger! To my surprise there was very little emphasis on trauma stuff. I would have included suture material - the list included steristrips but not artery clamps. Both of these are to stop big cuts. I am glad though that Liberty Nyamezela has everything we can think of padded and covered so that Pete has little chance of cutting himself.
Anyway, as far as the medical kit was concerned we found out we were missing a low-reading rectal thermometer. This is used to check for hypothermia. We initiated a hunt back in Cape Town but it seems they’re not widely available. We eventually went back and said as much, and were directed to a team who had two rectal thermometers and no normal one. We’ve arranged a swap that will be in everyone’s interests. Just have to ‘import’ a normal thermometer now.
After that we spent the rest of another hot day placing the two fire extinguishers: one inside the cabin and one outside in the foot well just outside the cabin.
The cabin bilge pump was fitted next - the pump inlet is on the roof and is used in case of a capsize. If this happens and a hatch is open the cabin will fill with water. The pump enables the rower to pump the roof dry and right the boat. Fitting this turned out to be a little more challenging than expected. The hose we had bought along was too small so off we went to the local hardware store to get a bigger one. This then meant that the drill bit Pete had brought was too small. However, after much huffing and puffing the boere made a plan and we heated the new pipe with Pete’s gas cooker and managed to force it through the smaller hole. The final result was better than we could have imagined - a large hose in a small hole and no chance of a leak.
That done we then got on to fitting the bags which are attached to the walls inside the cabin and act as a sort of kangaroo pouch to keep cloths and stuff close at hand. Disaster! After we had fitted them we noticed that Pete had drilled holes right through the boat and we had two screws sticking out. Fortunately it was quick to repair by borrowing some filler putty from our neighbours and our holey boat was fixed. A neatly placed reflective sticker hides the repair!
The last chore yesterday was spent packing the boat with the dankie tannie packets. They are all stowed in the large floor hatch under Pete’s bed.
The heat is really bad here but the most amazing thing is we can spend the whole day in the sun without a T-shirt and not get a tan at all. The sun is simply not as vicious as it is in South Africa!
We finished the day with our usual swim in the sea and an ice cold beer at the local pub run by Manuel. He is a legend amongst the rowers and warmly welcomes them. His pub is full of race history and a SA flag hangs on the wall with Pete and Bill’s names below it (after their win in 07/08)!
Today (Wednesday) will be a biggie. We are going to unpack the entire boat of all its equipment and make sure that, when our turn comes to be checked, we have it all. No doubt there are going to be a few ‘oh **** ‘ moments. Let’s hope it doesn’t require another La Gomera treasure hunt. We are holding thumbs that we did our groundwork. To date it has been a well-planned campaign.
The sun has now risen and it’s another beautiful day in La Gomera. I must go now and make Pete his sandwiches and food to make him big and strong. Today it’s avo sandwiches again and local sausage with fruit and knock-you-dead brownies from Home! I’ll also ensure Pete has his two bone and joint building tabs and make some breakfast - how’s that for service?
Pete is getting all his emails and good wishes. It is part of our ritual to sit in Manuel’s pub, beer in hand, checking emails from home. Pete says keep them coming. It’s just there is no time to reply to them all but we will try.
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