Santa Claus on the Atlantic

Everyone celebrates the holidays in a different way. For instance, you could spend Christmas out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in a rowboat. It takes all types, right?

Colin Angus is a fellow I knew in high school. I wish I'd gotten to know him better because he's one of those people that adventure follows. Or perhaps its that way because he seeks it out. Whichever way it is, he's an inspiring lad.

He's rafted the Amazon River from its source to the sea, been shot at by South American guerrillas, and survived in the Mongolian wilderness after a mishap while navigating the Yenisey River. He makes documentary films and writes books as he goes and comes back to his hometown to show them.



Now he's currently rowing around in the Atlantic with his friend Julie on another adventure. Go Angus!

Expedition Planet Earth: The first human-powered circumnavigation of the Earth. 42,00 kilometers by foot, oar, ski, and bicycle!

As its in the spirit of the holiday season, I leave you with his latest post and a link to his website. It's interesting reading:


Day 574
Santa Claus on the Atlantic
December 27th, 2005
Santa Claus came early this year for Julie and I as we continued our struggle across the Atlantic. After three months alone in our rowboat, we spend much time imagining and salivating over the treats that the rest of the world is indulging in with the leadup to the holiday season. So, when Julie spotted a 100-foot luxury yacht motoring along in the distance, she immediately picked up the VHF radio to say hello and invite them over for pancakes.

They declined the pancakes, but they did change course to investigate a rowboat in the middle of the ocean. It seemed surreal to see the gleaming manmade object coming towards us after so many months of nothing but freighters in the distance, on the vast expanse of sea and blue sky. Six jolly crew members on the sailing yacht Ripple were on deck hooting and cheering as they drew close. Apart from some Spanish fishermen who had waved from a distance, these were the first humans we had encountered in three months.

It was a calm day, and Ripple stayed alongside for an hour as we exchanged stories. The crew were on their way to Antigua in the Caribbean, having come from the Mediterranean. They expected their leg from the Canaray Islands to the Caribbean to take thirteen to fourteen days, a stark contrast to the eigthy days it would take us to cover the same distance. Every year, a fleet of several thousand sailboats makes the tradewind passage to the West Indies following the end of the hurricane season, and Ripple was at the tail end of this flotilla.

Before departing, the kind folks on Ripple lavished us with gifts that would make our holidays (if it is possible to use that word to describe a period that also involves sixteen hours a day of rowing) the most memorable ever. They handed us several bags which included icy cold pop and beer, a large carton of assorted chocolate bars, loads of junk food, several magazines, and nine paperback books.

It is impossible to describe the joy of unexpectedly receiving such indulgences, after spending a quarter of a year alone in an open rowboat. As Ripple chugged into the distance, Julie and I grinned from ear to ear as we sipped on cold pop, the rest wrapped in a blanket to preserve the chill.

With Ripple’s input, we have now planned Christmas Day. Our festivities will involve warm beer, sweet treats, and the bellowing of Christmas carols into a chasm of blue. Dinner will be homemade dorado and cheese macaroni, made with a hopefully-caught fish and our last block of Portuguese cheese, aged to perfection for over 100 days. In some respects, we are pleased to have such a minimalist Christmas. The holiday season is about being with loved ones, and we have that."