Since Alan Carter left yesterday, we have received thousands of emails of concern, asking what happened.
It was always going to be a difficult choice to replace Jan, but the conditions to take part in the expedition were simple - I am Spirit of Cardiff's team leader, and boss. My responsibility is to the safety of the crew, and to get the boat around the world in the shortest possible time.
All other decisions were to be made jointly, and by a majority agreement. I fully accept that Alan Carter is his own boss, but from the very early days of the expedition it was apparent that he didn't accept my role as decision maker and team leader. I felt he did not trust me to run the expedition to his liking.
The first indication we had that Alan was going to jump ship was when we arrived in Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia, where our hosts took me aside and explained to me that getting an exit visa for one of my crew members was going to be impossible. Alan had never discussed that he was going to leave the project at any time, and when I confronted him about it, he told me he didn't want to tell us until he was sure he was leaving.
By the time we arrived in Aden, he told me that he was staying, and that he was going all the way around the world. This is why previous journals indicated that the crew had finally gelled. Upon our arrival in Mangalore, India, it came as a major shock to discover from our hosts that the Indian immigration authorities had told them one of the Spirit of Cardiff's crew members was looking for an exit visa. From that moment on, I had absolutely no trust in his loyalty to the project.
Whilst I accept that Alan and I had a difference of opinion on many occasions, I cannot accept the way that he left the project, and his crew mates, whom he abandoned in Singapore. There is deep resentment from both Clive and Steve about the manner in which this happened.
Alan joined the team with the sole purpose of filming the proposed TV documentary, and the terms and conditions of his place in the team were that he made a cash contribution towards fuel and expenses. It saddens me that he has not only taken the filming equipment and any opportunity to promote the project to the world by television, but has withdrawn the remainder of his financial commitment, leaving the project and three crew members on the other side of the world with not enough money to get home, and without even the courtesy of saying goodbye.
This is the last comment I will make about this. Our motto is "Driven by the Challenge", and certainly we are presently being challenged. The whole team back home is working around the clock to try and replace the financial shortfall we're faced with. If anyone knows anyone who may be interested in supporting or sponsoring us, please contact John, Sophie or Nadia.
We've been told our replacement parts will be in Singapore tomorrow, and if all goes well, we hope to leave Monday late afternoon. We are not going to let this situation stop us, and we will be home soon - one way or the other.
Alan Priddy
Singapore