While writing the day 41 update earlier today I was reminded that was the time it took Phil Stubbs and myself to win the inaugural Atlantic Rowing Race in November, 1997. 

Whenever I think of that triumphant moment I always remember a more poignant one which occurred on 20 December the following year when Phil was killed in a plane accident.  All those who knew Phil, and many who didn’t, were deeply affected by his death.  He was one of the most focused uncompromising tough *******’s I’ve ever met.  I know he would have loved to have been out there ‘doing it’ on the Tasman with the lads, almost revelling in the difficulties thrown his way.

During the planning stages of this campaign the Team Gallagher crew aboard Moana didn’t for a moment think they would still have been so far away from NZ after 41 days at sea.  Yet, their determination is still evident.  Yesterday morning a call went out for food and equipment to repair broken seats.  By the time I had organised a plane drop and had a ship ready to divert to assist them the crew had changed their mind deciding to continue on unassisted and, in the process, demonstrating how tough they are too.