Update from Cliff 28 Nov 09
28/Nov/09 22:55 Filed in: Nyamezela
Yesterday was, I would say, the best day so far - the race is getting closer and Pete has moved past his low ebb of the day before. We spent the morning fitting the rowing seat and making sure the rails were clean and the bushes ran smoothly. The seat slides back and forth and it is vital that the mechanism which allows Pete to push the seat with each oar stroke is smooth and trouble free. He will be cleaning the mechanism after every shift of rowing and ensure that it is well-lubricated. The rowing seat is, after all, like the clutch system of the boat - with Pete as the engine. Pete has to generate the right kind of torque to race strong and safe and everything needs to be just right with these particular moving parts.
When Pete rows he puts his feet into a pair of white, very bling rowing shoes(they are white because when he gets into the tropics a black shoe would cook his feet). Remember that there is no shade on the deck at any point of the race (rowers are not allowed to use anything that might be deemed a sail to give them an unfair advantage). So, it’s a choice between having roasting feet or being blinded by the white – thank goodness for his Vuarnet sunglasses to keep deck and shoe glare under control! The shoes are attached to the boat with bolts. The right shoe pivots at the toe and is connected to a bar that controls the rudder and thus allows Pete to steer Nyamezela. At the beginning of each rowing shift, Pete ties himself in and sits on as many foam sheets as he can. One of the main issues concerning Pete is the care of his buttocks because spending so much time sitting on his bum causes pressure sores. This is not only painful but dangerous as no sore heals properly in the perpetually damp conditions. The custom made bum balm that he has brought all the way from East London will go some way to fending off discomfort but bum care will be top of his list as he rows.
After we tested and re-tested the sea, we unpacked the entire boat and laid out all the equipment Pete will need for the scrutiny next to her. Pete is really organised and has far less clutter than any other boat I have seen. At midday we took a well-deserved swim with the other rowers. It was a great bonding session - lots of messing about and joking and banter.
We are both missing our quiet homes back in South Africa. We are staying in a lovely apartment which is situated on the town square and overlooks the beach. We sleep with the balcony door open, to enjoy the fresh sea air. Last night, as it has for the past two nights, the local disco let rip at 3 am and we were tested by the bass beat that went on until 5 am. Dirt trucks, street sweepers and cars joined the din and Pete and I battled to sleep. No soon was I nodding off when there was a feeble attempt at a blood transfusion by a local mosquito. If there is something the Spanish need to do it is to beef up the mozzies here. This one came in sounding like it was riding a Vespa scooter - nothing like our Mig squadrons from home. One solid clap to my head as it buzzed my ear and it was history. Peace at last. Barring the human noise and merriment, of course.
We pulled a fun move yesterday. As Liberty Nyamezela is made of carbon fibre she is very, very light for her size and nothing does more to a rower’s head than knowing a competitor’s boat is lighter than his. So, after we removed all the provisions except the food, I casually strolled to the front and lifted her up. The average boat weighs between 300 and 400 kg. Nyamezela must be somewhere in the 180 kg range and to see her lifted off her trolley got some broad smiles and lots of heads shaking. Pete naturally also had a go to show it was as easy as it looked and then a few other guys wanted to check if we were serious and had a go too. Well it’s a fact … she is light!
We left the boat ready to be checked and that’s what will be happening today. We will then have a list to complete and we will have next week to tie up any odds and ends and get Nyamezela on the water.
Again, thanks for all the messages and yes, please keep them coming. Pete is feeling strong and the days are counting down. Scrutiny will be a big hurdle tomorrow (Saturday). We had a good chat to Charlie and have arranged to have dinner together before the race starts. The energy between the rowers is far less about being competitors than being fellow rowers and friends. But there is a race and somebody must win – let’s hold thumbs that it’s our Pete.
When Pete rows he puts his feet into a pair of white, very bling rowing shoes(they are white because when he gets into the tropics a black shoe would cook his feet). Remember that there is no shade on the deck at any point of the race (rowers are not allowed to use anything that might be deemed a sail to give them an unfair advantage). So, it’s a choice between having roasting feet or being blinded by the white – thank goodness for his Vuarnet sunglasses to keep deck and shoe glare under control! The shoes are attached to the boat with bolts. The right shoe pivots at the toe and is connected to a bar that controls the rudder and thus allows Pete to steer Nyamezela. At the beginning of each rowing shift, Pete ties himself in and sits on as many foam sheets as he can. One of the main issues concerning Pete is the care of his buttocks because spending so much time sitting on his bum causes pressure sores. This is not only painful but dangerous as no sore heals properly in the perpetually damp conditions. The custom made bum balm that he has brought all the way from East London will go some way to fending off discomfort but bum care will be top of his list as he rows.
After we tested and re-tested the sea, we unpacked the entire boat and laid out all the equipment Pete will need for the scrutiny next to her. Pete is really organised and has far less clutter than any other boat I have seen. At midday we took a well-deserved swim with the other rowers. It was a great bonding session - lots of messing about and joking and banter.
We are both missing our quiet homes back in South Africa. We are staying in a lovely apartment which is situated on the town square and overlooks the beach. We sleep with the balcony door open, to enjoy the fresh sea air. Last night, as it has for the past two nights, the local disco let rip at 3 am and we were tested by the bass beat that went on until 5 am. Dirt trucks, street sweepers and cars joined the din and Pete and I battled to sleep. No soon was I nodding off when there was a feeble attempt at a blood transfusion by a local mosquito. If there is something the Spanish need to do it is to beef up the mozzies here. This one came in sounding like it was riding a Vespa scooter - nothing like our Mig squadrons from home. One solid clap to my head as it buzzed my ear and it was history. Peace at last. Barring the human noise and merriment, of course.
We pulled a fun move yesterday. As Liberty Nyamezela is made of carbon fibre she is very, very light for her size and nothing does more to a rower’s head than knowing a competitor’s boat is lighter than his. So, after we removed all the provisions except the food, I casually strolled to the front and lifted her up. The average boat weighs between 300 and 400 kg. Nyamezela must be somewhere in the 180 kg range and to see her lifted off her trolley got some broad smiles and lots of heads shaking. Pete naturally also had a go to show it was as easy as it looked and then a few other guys wanted to check if we were serious and had a go too. Well it’s a fact … she is light!
We left the boat ready to be checked and that’s what will be happening today. We will then have a list to complete and we will have next week to tie up any odds and ends and get Nyamezela on the water.
Again, thanks for all the messages and yes, please keep them coming. Pete is feeling strong and the days are counting down. Scrutiny will be a big hurdle tomorrow (Saturday). We had a good chat to Charlie and have arranged to have dinner together before the race starts. The energy between the rowers is far less about being competitors than being fellow rowers and friends. But there is a race and somebody must win – let’s hold thumbs that it’s our Pete.
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