Antarctic rower update February 24, 2006 10:15 AM   Subscribe

An update on the mad Antarctic rower – I did put a fairly
unenlightening update
in the thread to let people know he had failed again, but those of you who enjoyed the Pythonesque aspects of the original thread or missed the update might enjoy what’s inside here.
posted by penguin pie to MetaFilter-Related at 10:15 AM (17 comments total)

Sorry – I know this isn’t best of the web, as I don’t think this report is online, but I couldn’t resist and this seemed the least offensive place to post it. From today’s edition of the Falklands weekly newspaper, the Penguin News:

Colin Yeates, the rower who twice attempted to circumnavigate the Antarctic solo in his rowing boat, will return to the UK tomorrow, after his second attempt ended in disaster on Saturday.
Colin was forced to call for help after he had lost some crucial equipment, including a navigational device. Because of this, Colin knew he was heading easterly from his compass but other than that, “I had no idea where I was,” he said.
Although at this point Colin said he could have tried to carry on, but “The further I went out, the more dangerous it would have become.”
After calling for help, the Fishery Patrol Vessel Dorada came to Colin’s aid but were unable to recover his boat. As it was considered a possible danger to shipping, Colin gave permission for the craft to be sunk.
Members of the Falklands Islands Defence Force happened to be aboard Dorada for a firing exercise so they opened fire on the boat. ”It was painful,” Colin said, adding that the last thing he wanted was for his craft to be a danger to anyone else.
However, despite being shot at, the boat refused to sink, due to the incredibly buoyant material it was constructed from.
posted by penguin pie at 10:16 AM on February 24, 2006


That's awesome. What a dumbass.
posted by graventy at 10:23 AM on February 24, 2006


They need to lock the dude up. Or simply refuse to rescue him from himself next time.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:28 AM on February 24, 2006


You know persistence is a great quality, but sometimes people should just stop doing things. That's what the judge said to me anyway at the restraining order hearing.

I still love you Bea, come home.
posted by Pollomacho at 10:43 AM on February 24, 2006


For some reason, this will only be satisfying if it ends with his death.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:52 AM on February 24, 2006


Thanks, I would have forgotten to check the thread. This seems like exactly what we all were predicting, oh, except that he survived it.
posted by OmieWise at 11:27 AM on February 24, 2006


Pythonesque aspects
posted by Otis at 12:00 PM on February 24, 2006


It's like the end of Frankenstein, except without the reanimated creature. Or the doctor being smart.
posted by cortex at 12:43 PM on February 24, 2006


I can just imagine them filling that boat with lead like Peter Weller in robocop while the guy watches and crys. And it makes me happy.
posted by puke & cry at 1:21 PM on February 24, 2006


One of the downsides of civilization is that we try too damn hard to keep people alive against their better judgement.
posted by Ryvar at 1:22 PM on February 24, 2006


Thanks for the update penguin pie. The whole thing sounds hilariously Pythonesque. I'm glad no one got hurt.

PS I love the idea that MeFi has got someone way down there keeping an eye open for the best of Antarctica for the rest of us!
posted by jasper411 at 1:57 PM on February 24, 2006


wow, I didn't realize penguin pie was actually in the Falkland Islands.
posted by puke & cry at 2:07 PM on February 24, 2006


She's not, she's in las Islas Malvinas.
posted by Protocols of the Elders of Awesome at 2:29 PM on February 24, 2006



There are no other MetaFilter members nearby, sorry
:(
posted by edgeways at 2:54 PM on February 24, 2006


She's not, she's in las Islas Malvinas.

Hey, no need to start an international incident.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 4:25 PM on February 24, 2006


Well, maybe you had to be here, but I've certainly enjoyed the whole episode (at least, I have now he's not dead). My friend A was one of the boys with the guns on the Dorada. Friend B works for a tourism agency (yes, we have 40K cruise ship tourists a year, yada yada) which for some inexplicable reason got their stickers put on his boat.

Friend B proudly brought back a photo he'd taken of one of the stickers with a perfect line of bullet holes through the middle of the logo, and gave it to A as a gift.

Wellll, we make our own entertainment in these parts.

In the interests of full disclosure, Friend C did the interview I've transcribed. Colin also admitted to C that he'd been neglecting his family a bit recently and was off home to be a better dad/husband, and confessed he'd have to eat humble pie to the UK Foreign Office, who apparently wrote to him to tell him he was doomed. Probably is anyway when he gets home to the wife...
posted by penguin pie at 7:29 PM on February 24, 2006


There are no other MetaFilter members nearby, sorry.

Ain't that the truth! I was going to try and arrange a visit, but Google Map's driving directions were crap.

PS - Holy crap, the Falklands!?
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 11:04 AM on February 26, 2006


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