As I write, our boat, the Moana, is being shipped to Sydney, powering its way at 20+ knots across the Tasman. A trip of around four days. We will then unpack it from the container and then begin to row back, a trip of somewhere between 30 and 60 days.

It has taken months, in fact years of planning, and it is all about to begin in a couple of weeks. Andrew and myself will fly to Sydney on Sunday followed shortly after by Nigel, Martin and then Rob. There is plenty to do during this time as there are still a few things that need to be tested, auto helm, the broadband unit and we have to repack all the food, but there comes a point in every campaign where you just have to get on and do it and that time is dawning upon us.

For the last couple of weeks I have moved up to Auckland and have been full time on the campaign after handing in my creative component for my masters degree. There have been a few small complications that have been resolved and a few that we will find out about when the boat reaches Sydney, but all in all it has been good fun and a great chance to spend time with the team. I just had an email from a friend saying that it is over 30 degrees in Sydney this week so it looks like it is going to be a very warm row out of the Heads but am thoroughly excited about getting started and getting on with the row.  

- James Blake