Checkpoint 9: 200 miles down, 60 to go!!

The guys are in fantastic spirits and have just left checkpoint 9 with the 200 mile mark now behind them and one less deadline to meet. 73 hours into the race, the team have 27 hours (just over 1 full day and night) left to complete the race.

The boys are ecstatic as are Charlie and Sophie and the whole team have only goal in sight -the finish line at Seadrift. The next checkpoint will be in 27 kilometres time and the team have 13 hours in which to do this. That will be the second last checkpoint before Saltbarrier, the last checkpoint at 244 miles, 26 miles before the finish line. There are now 53 boats left in the race and for the next section, the team have agreed to paddle alongside a solo competitor who is a race veteran, and knows the river well having competed in the race many times.

The next section is filled with a lot of log jams which will mean quite a bit of portaging, however the boys are determined to finish and are on the homeward stretch. JM and Sophie have both had their flights changed so that the team can all have a well earned sleep (and perhaps just the odd Texas beverage or ten and a huge dinner together on the Wednesday night). The team are so close, they can smell the finish and whilst it may be close in terms of time deadlines, the camels are determined to make it!

Come on guys, you're so close now, you can do it!