24 Jun 2005, South Coast
So she's not yet in her natural element... the ocean. But she's getting closer. Yesterday I was driven down to Devon by the aptly named Graham Foreshore, a sailing instructor with the Marines, to collect my beautiful boat from the boatbuilder. We brought her back to the South Coast where she will be based for the next few months while I get her fitted out ready to cross the Atlantic.
There's still a huge amount of work to be done before she's ready, but there are many willing hands ready to help, so it WILL all get done... somehow!
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14 Jun 2005, Southampton
'Life is too short to waste time on second-class ambitions. Go for the big ones, even if that means a higher failure rate.'
Bold words, but no less than you would expect from the man described as the world's greatest living explorer. There can't be many deserts, oceans, jungles, poles, mountain ranges or marathons that Sir Ranulph Fiennes hasn't tackled at some point in his lifetime. At the age of 62 he's showing few signs of slowing down - not long ago he ran seven marathons in seven days, and has just returned from an attempt on Everest, thwarted only by a suspected heart problem, clearly heeding his own advice to 'Know when to turn back and live to fight another day. Better to be a live donkey than a dead lion.'
His book, Beyond the Limits, is a bible for anybody wanting to achieve anything in life - be it in business or adventure to personal development. Truly inspiring stuff, yet down-to-earth and practical too. Recommended.
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12 Jun 2005, Emsworth
1967 December 23rd
Was when the first dulcet tones of Rosalind were heard
Her parents grinned like Cheshire cats but little did they know
That she was born to run and climb and row and row and row.
Her parents were both Methodists, they preached the Wesley way
That is partly why she is the lass she is today.
Perhaps their fishy sermons drove their pretty little daughter
To believe she had the strength to almost walk on water
At school she wasn't sporty but that changed quite a bit
At Oxford when she said that it was time that she got fit
A bank tub by the boat house was where this girl with pluck
First discovered that her motions weren't just strokes of luck
With two half blues behind her she took part in a trip
Around the Aegean in a Greek style battleship
It obviously was primitive, with 170 crew,
I'd like to know what happens when you're desperate for the loo.
Not content with boats and blades or sailing in the wind
There was something more in store for racy Rosalind
In two important marathons Roz could not go wrong
Even though her feet became as corny as this song.
Just to ease the boredom in the year 2003
She enlisted in the Royal Geographical Society
While other girls her age were fast becoming social drinkers
She was scouring rain forests in search of long lost Incas.
Then, as normal people do when they have nought to do,
She spent three months on her own trekking round Peru
Three Peaks in Peru became the title of her book
'Three peeks?' I am sure she must have had a longer look
Her adventures kicked off at the age of 34
She had worked in offices and knew that there was more
Roz's thirst for knowledge will have many passages
She may even learn her ancestors were savages
In the Atlantic boat race she'll be on her own
Roz says that she's doing it to grow her comfort zone
We admire your courage; we think that you're so brave
Just to make you feel at home here's a great big wave.
(at which point everybody put their arms in the air and gave a big double-handed wave...)
Song composed by John Preston, and performed by him at the charity breakfast presentation that took place in the City on 7th June.
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07 Jun 2005, London EC3
Things are moving - fast! Gave a breakfast presentation in the City to an audience of insurance executives. Lord Butler very kindly added an entertaining rallying cry to urge generosity towards my charities and my expedition. Charlotte Young of the Princes Trust added a few words about how they will use the funds raised by my row.
Then it was off to a meeting at the Lloyds Building - brokers Besso introduced me to their marine underwriters, Catlin, who have offered to cover my precious, beautiful boat against total loss. They can get this sorted before I go to Devon on Friday to collect the Solo from the boatbuilder who has been fitting her hatches and rudder.
Six months to go, and the momentum is building. Exciting times ahead - watch this space!
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