Norman, left, testing the Spirit of Swindon in April

• Report 1 - Wednesday 31st October
• Report 2 - Friday 2nd November
• Report 3 - Friday 9th November
• Report 4 - Tuesday 27th November
• Report 5 - Tuesday 18th December
• Report 6 - Thursday 20th December
• Report 7 - Friday 28th December
• Report 8 - Friday 25th January
• Sharing the Spirit of Swindon and Salzgitter

Spirit of Swindon report - 1
31st October 2001

Norman Butler called swindonlink.com from somewhere out in the Atlantic with his account of the row so far.

After 23 days at sea, he and rowing partner Phil Scantlebury from Poole have settled into some kind of routine, but it is tedious and the rowing is still tough.

"Lack of sleep is the main problem," said Norman. "With rowing two hours on and two hours off, we're not getting enough time to recuperate our strength."

After the initial week when Norman was quite seasick, he and Phil still suffer from rashes or pressure sores from the chaffing of the salt water on their skin. Norman thought he had broken his elbow a few days ago, but he thinks the swelling on his arm is just a muscle strain as he is still managing to row.

The weather has been kind so far. The Spirit of Swindon went through a spectacular thunder storm a few days ago, with lightning flashes turning night into day. The air temperature is rising as they head south. Outside the sun is increasingly hot, the cabin is like a sauna.

Norman said he and Phil are coping with the sea conditions. "We have had to develop our rowing technique as we have gone along. So far the waves have not been very high, but they come at us from different directions. We are not rowing in a straight line; we have to steer the boat with the oars so we hit the wave or come down from it at the right angle. If we don't get it right, we get soaked as the wave crashes across the boat."

He said the Spirit of Swindon is making steady progress and they are covering between 25 to 60 miles daily. "It all depends on the luck we're having; if the wind and the currents are with us, we can go quite a distance. If they are not, the rowing is just as hard, but we don't go so far."

We told Norman that many people had asked about him and he said he appreciates the thoughts of Swindonians.

The Spirit of Swindon can be tracked on the web at www.oceanrowing.com


Spirit of Swindon report - 2

From Norman Butler by satellite phone: Friday 2nd November 2001

Norman Butler is around 900 miles into his trans-Atlantic row with Phil Scantlebury and 'phoned for a chat. They are south west of the Canary Islands and north of the Cape Verde Islands.

He said that getting enough sleep and rest continues to hamper their progress and Phil is now afflicted by the an old back problem that has flared up. "He is taking pain killers and is restricting himself to one and half hour rowing stints," said Norman. "Obviously he must not over strain his back or he will be out of the rowing altogether."

"It is dead calm at the moment. All we can see is miles and miles of ocean which is incredible. Without any wind it is very hot, around 39 degrees. We're using a lot of sunscreen but we're still getting burnt which is making things difficult."

They thought they saw the lights of another rowing team one night, but could not make contact, and some sailing boats passed in the distance. They've seen dolphins around the boat and flying fish in it, whilst a shark's fin glided by a few days ago.

After nearly four weeks at sea, the bottom of the boat is encrusted with barnacles. They are obviously a delicacy as Norman and Phil were surprised when a three foot long turtle who started having a nibble. "It was good that the turtle was removing the barnacles as the boat has become heavier to row. We were still at the time, but he followed and continued his meal when we rowed on."

With Phil not being able to pull his weight, Norman indicated that the Spirit of Swindon team is at a difficult point psychologically. "We are at a critical phase," said Norman. "We feel that we've done a lot, but there's still such a long way to go. We need to keep up the routine and keep our spirits up."

I told Norman that Linda is well and Melissa was being very noisy when I visited them on Thursday. He was glad to hear the news and said he missed them a lot.

The Spirit of Swindon can be tracked on the web at www.oceanrowing.com


Spirit of Swindon report - 3

Friday 9th November

Norman telephoned this morning to report a massive tropical storm which hit the Spirit of Swindon last night.

"It was pretty scary stuff with torrential rain filling up the boat and forked lightening all around us," he said. "We had to keep rowing to try and get the water out of the boat. We also seemed to be pushed closer to the lightning. I said my prayers and thought long and hard of Linda and Melissa back in Swindon. We really did think a bolt of lightning might hit us."

Norman and Phil are still struggling against unfavourable winds. "After about ten days, we have not made the progress we wanted. We could really make up ground if only we can get the winds behind us."

The storm had passed and Norman seemed glad to be able to tell somebody about it.

Norman also called Linda to say the storm had passed. The cooling rain was a welcome respite from the 30 degree temperatures they are enduring most days. The Spirit of Swindon is nearing the half way point and Norman reckons they will arrive in Barbados around 17th December.


Spirit of Swindon report - 4

Near disaster for Norman and Phil : Tuesday 27th November

Blessing the Spirit of Swindon on 10 September. Norman with Rev Peter Knight from St Mary's, Lydiard Millicent and Sir Maurice Johnston, Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire

Norman telephoned Linda his wife on his satellite 'phone at 3am to describe a hair raising event which nearly put paid to the Spirit of Swindon and could have killed Norman and his partner Phil Scantlebury.

Stocks of food are starting to run low as the pair have struggled against unfavourable winds for much of their journey. Norman had originally planned and packed for 90 days, but decided to leave twenty days worth of supplies at home because of weight considerations.

On Sunday 25 November they managed to attract the attention of a passing freighter on their short range VHF radio to explain their situation. The crew dropped a package overboard, but it was night and the ship was a little too far away and they had to give up after a three hour search by torchlight.

They managed to call up The Gallant, a Panama registered freighter crewed by Ukrainians on Tuesday, but made the mistake of bringing the Spirit of Swindon in too close. After receiving bread, potatoes, evaporated milk, coffee, beer and other essentials lowered over the side, the ship started up before Norman and Phil could pull far enough away. In a choppy sea and with propeller churning, the Spirit was sucked along the side towards near disaster.

The mast, secured to the main beam of the Spirit was bent but did not structurally damage the craft. The radar reflector and light are still working. As important, the oar outriggers did not break whilst scraping along the steel side of the freighter. Somehow Norman and Phil managed to push the Spirit far enough away from being caught in the propeller and rudder.

"Norman sounded very shaken," said a relieved Linda. "Even though it was 3am he just had to tell somebody of the incident and that they had managed to survive. He mentioned that God must be protecting them. I did not get back to sleep worrying about what might have happened."


Spirit of Swindon report - 5

Atlantic rowers at the extremes of endurance : Tuesday 18th December

Norman Butler from Westlea and his rowing partner Phil Scantlebury from Poole in their boat Spirit of Swindon hope to arrive in Port St Charles, Barbados between Christmas and New Year, completing a long, hard 3,000 mile journey. But it may be early January before they get there.

According to Linda Butler, before she and Melissa, born 9 September, flew to the Caribbean to welcome Norman, with 400 miles to go, both men were at the end of their tether with frustration and despair and were struggling to maintain the momentum to finish.

"They are physically and mentally exhausted, but they have been in some very rough conditions, with the boat surfing up and down forty foot waves," she said. They have been concentrating and working really hard to make sure the boat goes up the wave and down the other side at the right angle to try and avoid being soaked more than they have to. They are wearing lifejackets and a harness secured to the boat. But they are very fed up and just want to get there."

In mid-December Linda was telephoned by Dover coastguard after the French coastguard had received a message from a ship which could not locate the Spirit following a radio message asking for food. Linda had talked to Norman by then and was able to assure the coastguard they were alright. However an 'all-ships' message meant that a passing schooner spotted the Spirit and dropped off some food.

Welcome as it was, Norman ate some out-of-date salami which turned his stomach and made rowing very difficult. "They have to use a bed pan for a toilet to keep low in the boat and Norman said he had to row for a few day sitting on it," said Linda. "They've run out of vitamins and have broken out in sores, some in sensitive areas. To make things worse a few days ago Norman burnt his bum on the cooking stove as the boat lurched unexpectedly."

Norman reported on 12 December that he had been rowing one night when he was hit heavily in the face. At sun up he discovered the culprit was a 3lb. flying fish lying on the deck. The rudder on the Spirit of Swindon has become difficult to operate, possibly from encrusted barnacles, but the rough sea means that the rowers cannot get into the water to carry out an inspection. This has made steering through the waves more difficult, but they also need the rudder to help make a more southerly course so that the Spirit of Swindon can approach Port St Charles from the right direction. If not it could be swept passed the islands.

Hopefully there will be no further mishaps and Norman will be able to meet up with Linda and Melissa and his mother by the New Year.


Spirit of Swindon report - 6

Norman on his own for last leg of trip : Thursday 20th December

Norman and the Spirit of Swindon in lights on the side of Richard and Karen Parker's house in Benwell Close, Westlea, close to Norman and Linda's home

Norman telephoned swindonlink.com on his satellite 'phone to explain that Phil Scantlebury's back had finally given in and he had been rescued by a passing ship. Norman said he was going to complete the last 300 miles to Port St Charles in Barbados by himself.

He sounded very positive and determined to complete the 3,000 mile trip from the Canary Islands, considering the time he has been at sea, the difficult conditions and the physical and mental demands he has endured.

Unfortunately the Spirit was holed above the water line whilst Phil was being transferred to the other boat. "At first I thought that was it, I would have to abandon the Spirit and have it burnt and sunk to remove the danger to other shipping. We took on a bit of water, but I decided to try and patch up the damage. I cut a six inch square piece of plywood and used marine glue and sealant to cover the hole low down by the bow, which meant leaning right over. The sea has settled down to choppy conditions but without anybody keeping us at the right angle, the boat is side on to the waves and I was constantly being knocked about; the job took about three hours."

Norman explained that, given his situation, he had decided to abandon the idea of rowing all the way to Barbados and was about to experiment with an oar and some clothing to rig up a sail.

Linda Butler, Melissa and Norman's mother arrived in Barbados on 20 December. Hopefully the Spirit is now close enough to land for Linda to be able to call Norman to hear the latest progress. With wind assistance he should be able to arrive in Port St Charles between Christmas and New Year.

We told Norman that our reports of his progress are being posted in the Link ALC and on the web site, and also circulated by post to supporters. He said, "I know a lot of people are hoping I'll make it and are praying for me; I don't want to let them down."


Spirit of Swindon report - 7

Norman makes it to dry land safe and sound - 28th December 2001

Swindon's intrepid trans-Atlantic rower Norman Butler has made it to Barbados, just in time for the New Year.

Using a sixth sense we at swindonlink.com rang the house Linda has rented in Port St Charles at 5pm on 28 December (10.30pm British time), five minutes after she and Norman had walked in the door after he arrived in port.

According to Norman, having been at sea since 8th October it was more like staggering. "I've had a few dizzy spells since arriving; it will take a few days to get use to walking again."

He described the last ten days as 'interesting' after his partner Phil Scantlebury was taken off the Spirit of Swindon. "I was determined I would get across, even though things have been difficult physically and mentally at times. The winds and the rolling waves pushed me towards the islands and it just amazing to see the lights Barbados in the distance; it really spurred me to put in extra effort to get there."

He said that he had rowed past the crucial 59 degrees 15 minutes west of longitude which marks the official edge of the Atlantic, then accepted a powered boat tow into the mouth of Port St Charles. Sea conditions make it very difficult to avoid treacherous rocks and reefs off the coast. Once past the danger Norman rowed the last couple of miles to the keyside where he was reunited with Linda, his three and half month old daughter Melissa, his mother and Phil.


"I must admit it was a bit of an anti-climax meeting everybody," said Norman. "I've really fallen in love with the sea after being by myself for the last part of the trip, and had been looking forward to the reunion.

"Getting to dry land has not hit me yet. It will take me a few days to get my bearings again. It's lovely to see Linda and Melissa again; I couldn't believe how heavy she is and how here features have changed."

Norman has made a video diary of his experience for the BBC which will be edited and broadcast in the Spring. His aim is to have the Spirit of Swindon brought home again and hopes to visit schools and businesses which supported him.

He and Linda should arrive back in Swindon by mid-January.


Spirit of Swindon report - 8

Atlantic rower returns triumphant - 25th January 2002

Norman holding the flag presented to him by the Mayor of Swindon's twin town Salzgitter

After nearly three months at sea in his boat Spirit of Swindon, intrepid rower Norman Butler from Westlea has returned to Swindon, after a joyful reunion with his wife Linda and baby daughter Melissa in Barbados on 29 December.

Norman never wavered from his goal and is an example of an ordinary bloke setting his heart on doing something remarkable. The last ten days of the 82 day trip was spent by himself as Norman's rowing partner Phil Scantlebury gave up and was taken off on a rescue boat.

Norman explained that unfortunately the psychological pressures of being at sea for longer than expected and in rough conditions had become too much for Phil. "There were some extreme moments which had us both on the edge. The physical demands and discipline to keep rowing whatever the weather and whatever time it was became too great a strain and a lot of my effort was going into counselling and coaxing him. The last days solo were some of the best as I was able to concentrate on the task of achieving my goal." The first part of the trip had been uneventful but hard work as there was no wind or wave assistance to help the rowing. As the Spirit of Swindon moved south, the heat rose, whilst salt water skin rashes and pressure sores increased. Sometimes rowing naked in the cooler parts of the day was the only way of relieving the discomfort. Norman's photos of backsides being exposed to the sun won't be reproduced here.

He gave up taking painkillers as they had little effect. Norman's alternative was laughter, by recalling scenes from Fawlty Towers and Alan Partridge shows.

As the journey took longer than expected Norman and Phil started to run out of food and had to call for help from passing ships. An encounter with a freighter which supplied food nearly destroyed the Spirit of Swindon. "We came in too close and because the ship was empty and sitting high in the water, we became trapped under the hull as it was moving," said Norman. "The crew could not see us and we were desperately fending off as the Spirit bumped along towards the rudder which was as tall as a house; we would certainly have been drowned if we were caught by the propeller. Thankfully we just popped out with a few metres to go; I think God came to our rescue in the nick of time."

A bout of food poisoning upset Norman's routine for about a week, but there were only two occasions when the two men locked themselves into their cabin because of the rough weather. "It was important to steer the boat through the waves as they came at us from different directions. The massive swells are really an incredible scene. One moment you're deep in a valley, the next at the top and for miles around are ranges of mountainous waves, always moving."

The reunion with Linda and Melissa at Port St Charles in Barbados was joyful. "When I left Melissa was newborn. It's incredible how much she has changed.

"There are so many people I have to thank for their support - my specialist advisors who helped me plan and train for the journey, my patron Sir Maurice Johnston, Rev Peter Knight at Lydiard Millicent and all the people who sent cards and e-mails to encourage me, many I don't know.

"My niece Clare Edmonds from Purton gave me some sealed envelopes which I looked forward to opening when reaching stages in the row.

"Linda has been incredible. I underestimated the stress she would be under. As I settled into a rhythm, she was dealing with phone calls, media enquiries, telling people how I was, whilst caring for Melissa and trying not to worry too much. She gave me fantastic support."

Now Norman wants to visit schools to talk about his experiences and he has to find a job to start settling accumulated debts.

If anyone is looking for somebody with excellent project management and counselling skills and considerable drive, give Norman a call on 01793 882197.


Sharing the Spirit of Swindon and Salzgitter

Norman presents a photogaph of himself holding the Salzgitter flag in the Spirit of Swindon to Herr Knebel, who gave him a book about the city. With them is the Mayor of Swindon David Cox

Atlantic rower Norman Butler from Westlea completed another journey on 10 February when he met the new mayor of Swindon's twin town Salzgitter at a civic dinner.

Norman told Herr Helmut Knebel that the Salzgitter city flag presented to him by his predecessor Herr Rudi Rueckert in September at the West Swindon Centre was one of the items that gave him inspiration on his 82 day row across the Atlantic. "It was good to have the flag with me on the Spirit of Swindon; I really felt that I was representing the people of both Swindon and Salzgitter."

Herr Knebel said he was particularly glad to meet Norman, having read about his exploits in the Salzgitter Zeitung. "To be on the ocean for so long, I admire what he has done. Norman is an example of what you can do if you set yourself a target, and what conditions man can endure. He had a special spirit of both Swindon and Salzgitter together."