Rowing: Shoes and chocolate on list for next time

By Suzanne McFadden

After 38 days at sea, New Zealand rowers Jude Ellis and Steph Brown have worked out a few things they would do differently if they tackled the transatlantic challenge again.

Brown, who has suffered from a backside chafed raw, would take a new rowing seat.

Ellis said: "We need new shoes - our ones have totally fallen apart.

"I would bring disposable pillow cases, because we've sweated so much out here.

"And then I'd take more chocolate. Steph told me she didn't like chocolate, yet she's been stealing it out of my bag when I'm asleep."

While the New Zealand men can smell victory, about 250 nautical miles from the finish line in Barbados, the only all-women's crew were still 650 nautical miles from a decent shower.

"We've jumped overboard to give ourselves a bit of a wash, but now there's skin all over the deck - it peels off like bark from a tree," Ellis said.

As difficult as it has been for the women, they were being hailed as heroes. They were in fourth place in a fleet of 35, and have been in the top four since the race began.

Yesterday, they slipped further behind the third-placed Belgian brothers, now 48 nautical miles ahead. It has been an intense race-long battle between the two boats, which the Kiwi women had the better of for over a month.

"We're not giving up yet either - we're going to mow them down," Ellis said.

"It's an amazing thing, for 2000 miles in a 3000-mile race we've been so close to another boat. They've kept us going."

Ellis, a member of the New Zealand women's rowing eight, predicted they would reach Barbados late next week - "just before we have to go on food rations."

"It has been real blood, sweat and tears for us. But we have absolutely no regrets about doing this," Ellis said. "We get on so well and we have a few laughs every day.

"We had a great ride for the first couple of weeks, but the last few, rowing in those headwinds, have given new meaning to the word 'frustration.'

"It will just make the finish even sweeter when we get there."