Charlie Pitcher establishes lead in solo category of Atlantic rowing race
Dropped anchor for 15 hours during stormy weather
“My hands look as if I've pushed them into a bucket of broken glass”
Amateur superman Charlie Pitcher is celebrating a near-perfect first week to his transatlantic rowing race, in which he has established a commanding lead in the solo category and has regularly lead the race overall.
As of 4pm on 12th January, Charlie is in the lead out of 30 boats, many of which are crewed by pairs or even fours. His nearest challenger in the solo category is in 17th place.
Father-of-four Charlie, sponsored by Southend-based travel insurance provider InsureandGo (www.insureandgo.com), is raising money for Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, in memory of his best friend Shaun McLeod-Jones who was treated there for kidney failure.
Charlie has put his good start down to his tactic of dropping anchor during a storm on the second day, while other boats tried to row through it and got blown off course.
Emailing via satellite link on board his specially designed, £60,000 boat, Charlie said: “I had a great start in the best conditions, but they soon deteriorated over the second day and I had to put out my anchor for about 15 hours.
“Other boats drastically changed course and went south with the wind, but I tried that and it didn't work. I cannot row forward in a strong wind, I just get blown sideways, hence staying on anchor. The first opportunity when the wind changed direction and I was off again. The adrenalin was going through me for those early days as I found myself in a very strong position and I wasn't going to let it go.
“I've been constantly monitoring my competitors and I am bombing along for the time being. I have a good lead on the other solo boats.”
Charlie’s strong start has come at a price, though:
“In the process of achieving this position, my body feels broken and need to pace myself more conservatively now. My race strategy was always to give everything in the first week to obtain control and then to cover.
“My hands look as if I've pushed them into a bucket of broken glass, this is a major problem and I've got the medicine kit out to play at ‘Doctors and Nurses.’ My bottom is no oil painting and I'm going to take a course of antibiotics for that!”
Having to do all the rowing himself, Charlie is sticking by a schedule that would defeat lesser mortals:
“My routine is basically two or three hours on, one hour off with a longer break of two hours sometime during the night. Each hour of rowing, I stop for seven minutes to stretch, make a protein drink or apply sunblock.
“Food is fine. I stocked up on wet rations before I left, but these are almost finished and then it will be dry rations until the end.”
Perry Wilson, founder of InsureandGo and the lead sponsor of Charlie’s transatlantic row, said: “Charlie’s doing incredibly well and we’re all very proud of his efforts. We’re keeping in close contact with him and will be getting updates from him on a regular basis.”
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