(Covering the last 24 hours) Hopefully, we’re down to just 10 days to go before reaching Antigua. It’s incredible watching the other boats arrive via the tracker — each little icon reaching land feels like a small victory for everyone still out here. We haven’t quite had enough Wi-Fi time yet to watch anyone arrive on the live streams, but even seeing those finish lines tick over is a huge morale boost. We’re both very much looking forward to a proper shower and a bit of down

(Covering the last 24 hours) We’re continuing to make good progress, adjusting to a slightly lower course to stay within the current. It feels like we’re finally working with the ocean rather than constantly fighting it — and that makes all the difference. 🐋 An Unforgettable Encounter Without question, the most exciting thing in the last 24 hours was a whale sighting — and not just a fleeting glimpse. We believe it was a minke whale. We first noticed the outlines of several

(Covering the last 24 hours) Another really great 24 hours, covering 71 nautical miles — and we’re very pleased with that. It’s tough out here because conditions can change at a moment’s notice. One minute it’s pouring with rain, the next it’s boiling hot. Then there’s no wind… then suddenly plenty of it… then side waves thrown in just to keep you on your toes. The ocean always has something to throw at you. The good mileage we’re seeing is down to hard work on every three-ho

(Covering the last 24 hours) It’s been a pretty dreary 24 hours, with heavy grey skies hanging over us. The wind has been doing that frustrating thing where it picks up as rain clouds approach, then drops off completely — sometimes to a strangely still calm — once they pass. Speeds have been a bit up and down, but trudge on we do. Every stroke we take is a stroke closer to Antigua. I often think back to my first ocean row, when I spent 24 hours rowing into a headwind, only to

(Covering the last 24 hours) Wow — the afterburners are on! We covered 79 nautical miles in the past 24 hours. We absolutely worked for every mile, but it was more than worth it. Days like this remind you just how rewarding ocean rowing can be when effort and conditions finally line up. 🌑 Darker Nights Again The nights are getting really dark now as the moon is waning and rising much later — in fact, in the early hours of the morning rather than during the night. A waning mo

(Covering the last 24 hours) We said things would pick up… and pick up they did! We covered 72 nautical miles in the past 24 hours, and we’re really pleased with that. After the grind of the last couple of weeks, it feels brilliant to finally see the miles stack up properly again. 🧽 A Clean Bottom Makes All the Difference Paul got back in the water to clean the bottom of the boat, and we’re certain it’s made a big difference. There was far more growth down there than we expe

(Covering the last 24 hours) We’ve had another dip in mileage, but we’re not overly concerned. We’re planning to scrub the bottom of the boat again shortly, and with some decent wind on the way, we know things will pick up. We’ve been sitting second in our class (Mixed) for most of the row. The next boat is now just a mile behind us, so hopefully the hull clean will help us pull away again. I keep saying we’re not racing — which we genuinely aren’t — but it’s impossible not t

(Covering the last 24 hours) We have rowed our butts off over the past 24 hours to try and claw back some of the miles we lost yesterday. We are absolutely knackered — but it was worth it. We clocked 65 nautical miles in the last 24 hours, which is great news in itself. Even better news is that we’re now back on par with the rest of the fleet, doing roughly the same miles in the same conditions. That was the part that really affected us yesterday — not the lower mileage (we c

(Covering the last 24 hours) This is going to be a short one today, because if I’m honest, we’re feeling totally demoralised. We’ve covered just 45 nautical miles in the last 24 hours, while much of the fleet appears to be flying along. It’s hard not to feel frustrated when you’re putting everything into it and the numbers simply aren’t reflecting the effort. 🌊 Working Hard, Going Nowhere We’re pretty sure we’re still dealing with an unfavourable current. We’ve had to keep a

(Covering the last 24 hours) Conditions remain tough. Waves are hitting from all angles — sometimes there’s lots of wind, sometimes driving rain, sometimes no wind at all. At times it’s unbearably hot, then suddenly overcast and grey. I often describe ocean rowing as chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow — you never quite find the conditions exactly where they should be. Just as you think you’ve cracked it, the ocean changes the rules again. 💪 A Really Hard Day I

(Covering the last 24 hours) We passed the halfway mark at 3pm yesterday — a moment that definitely deserved celebrating. Naturally, it was marked with a loud, slightly off-key chorus of Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer echoing across the Atlantic. Getting past halfway is a huge mental hurdle. Until that point, every mile feels like you’re still heading into the challenge. Once the numbers tip the other way, something shifts. You’re no longer just leaving where you started — you

Photo- train of Starlink satellites (Covering the last 24 hours) We rowed 58 nautical miles in the last 24 hours, which is a huge improvement on every day we’ve had over the past week. As you can imagine, morale has taken a massive boost. Even better, we should pass the halfway point today — 1,335 nautical miles rowed and 1,335 still to go. Psychologically, that’s a big one. The second half should be much quicker than the first. Looking at the forecast, we’re expecting averag

(Covering the last 24 hours) The past 24 hours have been teasing us. We’ve had a taste of the good stuff, only for the ocean to throw in a proper slog shift for good measure. Still, everything is definitely improving — and given that we weren’t forecast anything particularly special, we’re treating every good spell as a bonus. 🌊 Be Careful What You Wish For Although we’re really looking forward to bigger conditions, they come with their own challenges. When it’s flat calm, l

(Covering the last 24 hours) What a difference a day makes! From yesterday afternoon into the evening, we finally picked up some wind from behind — and in the right direction. At the moment it’s only around 12 knots, with the odd stronger gust, but it feels like a gift. It’s a million times better than hauling the boat against the wind. It’s lifted morale on board no end and brought a bit of hope that we might not be out here for months on end… (that definitely wouldn’t happe

(Covering the last 24 hours) I’m going to start with the good, put the bad in the middle, and finish on good again — because today really deserves that structure. 🌊 An Ocean Swim (The Good) Yesterday I got in the water to clean the hull, and honestly, it felt so good. The instant relief of cooling down and being able to move my body in a completely different way was incredible. The very first thing you do when you enter the water is stop and look around properly under the su

(Covering the last 24 hours) The slog goes on. We had around 12 hours of northerly winds, which left us with a choice: either accept a beam wind hitting us from the side — uncomfortable and inefficient — or change course. We opted for the course change, which you’ll be able to see clearly on the tracker. We’re now back on our intended heading, a little closer toward the rhumb line. For anyone wondering what that means, a rhumb line is the most direct, constant compass course

(Covering the last 24 hours) Happy New Year to everyone reading this — we hope you had a great New Year’s Eve and are looking forward to what 2026 has in store. Unfortunately, New Year’s Day out here hasn’t brought us anything particularly kind. 🌊 From Slog… to Slog with Extras Conditions have gone from a straight slog to a slog with a beam wave thrown in for good measure. The constant sideways roll makes it incredibly hard to get any rhythm, and it’s pretty demoralising pul

(Covering the last 24 hours) The last 24 hours have been a total slog, much like the days either side of it. There’s been no wind at all, and every mile has been earned the hard way. That said, I always try to take the positives. When you stop rowing for a couple of minutes to grab a drink or a snack, the silence is actually quite beautiful. No music. No boat noise. Just the gentle slap of waves against the hull. In those moments, the ocean feels calm and almost kind. 🎆 New

(Covering the last 24 hours) Wow… the slog continues. There is literally no wind out here at the moment. When you stop rowing, the silence is eerie — no rush of air, no movement, just the gentle slap of water against the hull. It’s getting to the stage where the monotony and sheer physical effort are starting to wear on both of us. The days are a little quieter now. We talk less and think more — about the better conditions that will come, and about how to get through each row

(Covering the last 24 hours) Yesterday lunchtime Paul got in the water to clean the bottom of the boat. He said it felt so good to be able to move his body in a completely different way after days of rowing — a rare moment of freedom out here. He did a grand job too, scraping off the barnacles and leaving us with a clean bottom once again. It’s always a bit nerve-racking getting into the water until you’ve had a proper look around below the surface through the goggles, just t