Clouds had hovered around for a few days but right on cue, the sun burst through on Sunday November 25 for the Freebird charity day to support rowers Peter Raab and Tim Wilks for their epic row to raise funds for the Orobal charity.

Around 50 passengers joined the party leaving Puerto Colon for well over 2 hours of fun, food and drink on the slightly restless sea. The children were kept enthralled and entertained by clown Johny Circus, the dolphins and whales put in an appearance and we were treated to close ups of the cliffs and caves of Montaña Guaza out by Palm Mar.

Returning to dry land, it was a quick dash down the coast to the Monkey Beach Club in Las Americasto savour the last sun of the day and to enjoy the sunset over the beach. Cocktails and a buffet were the order of the day as we steadied our sea legs.

The main focus of the fun day was to raise funds through the 2,900 mile row to Antigua, setting off on Saturday December 8, and 1,210 euros was added to the fund total. Orobal is based in Los Cristianos and helps to improve the quality of life for mentally and physically handicapped youngsters.

Less than 2 weeks now till the 11am departure from Puerto Colon, and all is set fair. Good luck to Peter and Tim, and thank you to all who supported the charity fun day.

Everyday is a party aboard the Freebird catamarans but it is always nice when they can share the fun and the proceeds with a worthy cause. Peter Raab and Tim Wilks are counting the days to their December 8 departure to Antiqua on their 3,000 mile row so Freebird are inviting you all along for a special charity fun day on Sunday November 25 to help the rowers in their quest to raise funds for Orobal. This Los Cristianos based charity does sterling work helping to improve the quality of life for mentally and physically handicapped youngsters.

The fun starts at 2pm from Puerto Colon with a 2 hour sailing complete with a childrens entertainer, Johnny Circus (see pic above)  drinks (beer, wine and the softer variety) and rolls. Then it’s all ashore to Monkey Beach Club in Las Americas for a BBQ, drinks and more entertainment.

This is a great chance to give Peter and Tim a good send off before their final training kicks in and tickets are only 25 euros for adults, and 10 euros for children, first child goes FREE. It’s bound to be a popular day out so book by November 18 online at www.freebirdsailing.com or on the free phone line 900714189.

It’s all go for Peter Raab and Tim Wilks as they prepare for the big day, December 8, when they set off from Puerto Colon for Antigua on their Atlantic rowing challenge.

Rowing into the sunset and beyond has been hard work with Peter running his business Total Marine on the marina and Tim back at school studying to be sea worthy in time for their big adventure, and then hitting the water for an evening work out. If that sunset looks tempting, there is an easier way to enjoy it with a Sunset Sailing from Freebird.

The good news is Tim has passed his first two exams and has the other two to go this weekend. Thanks to good tuition from Club Sail Sea School in Tejina, Tim is confident he will sail through.

Next week Freebird will be announcing details of their fundraising venture to help Peter and Tim in their quest to raise funds for the Orobal charity. More power to your rowing arms boys.

Tim Wilks gets to grips with his new home for up to two months. There’s not much room in the sleeping cabin of Martha Dos, but Tim and Peter Raab will grab some shut eye there between shifts rowing from Puerto Colon, Tenerife to Antigua, West Indies.

It really is a case of in at the deep end for Tim, who was a late substitute, only agreeing to join the project 4 weeks ago. The boat will set off on December 8 so Tim arrived in Tenerife yesterday, from Darlington, with lots of catching up to do.

“I’m pretty fit in myself” said the former semi pro rugby player “but I have to get used to the rowing discipline and have courses and tests to take concerning basic safety and navigation at sea.”

Tim is a well travelled adventurer and has followed the previous Atlantic rowing challenges from afar as the desire to take part grew. “A lot of it is about mental strength and I have always had that quality.”

All the hard training and the race itself are for a good cause, raising money for the Orobal charity, based in Los Cristianos, which helps to improve the quality of life for mentally and physically handicapped children. Freebird are pleased to be backing the challenge and will be arranging a series of fund raising events.

Land ahoy! Those words will be the most welcome sound that Peter Raab (left)  and Tim Wilks could possibly here, as they reach the end of their 3,000 mile Atlantic rowing challenge from Tenerife to Antigua, West Indies.

The pair are following a proud tradition of ocean rowing from Tenerife and will be inspired by the thought of the Orobal charity they are raising money for. Based in Los Cristianos, Orobal helps to improve the quality of life for mentally and physically handicapped children.

Freebird are pleased to be sponsoring the crew and their boat, Martha Dos as the departure date of December 8 looms closer. The marine plywood boat, stuck together with glue will set out from Puerto Colon harbour, home of the Freebird catamarans. Leading up to the big day, Freebird will be organising a series of events to raise funds for the intrepid rowers and would love to hear from anyone who would like to get involved, contact angela@freebirdsailing.com.

Martha Dos knows the route, the boat did the crossing in 2001 in just 61 days, the record is an amazing 35 days. Peter and Tim have no set time scale, they just want to get across in one piece and avoid any big storms or problems with their basic equipment.

As you sit down to your christmas dinner, they will be bobbing about in the middle of the Atlantic, and if they are lucky, they may catch a fish for a special treat to supplement their nutritional but bland diet. Good luck guys.

The brave duo will leave on December 8 and could be gone for up to three months, fighting the Atlantic without a motor or a sail. Their efforts are to raise funds for Orobal, a Los Cristianos based charity that helps bring support and comfort to mentally and physically handicapped children.

 Their boat, Martha Dos is moored in Puerto Colon harbour, dwarfed by bigger more powerful boats, after all it’s just 7.1 metres long and 1.9 metres wide. Peter and Tim have to live on this for the duration of the voyage and take turns at trying to sleep in a cramped cabin at one end of the boat.

Freebird will be arranging a series of fund raising events, if you want to get involved contact angela@freebirdsailing.com and keep checking this site for more news as the clock ticks down to departure day.