Friday 10th July- Day 15
- dawnysmiff
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
Today marks two weeks since we slipped away from the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club on a beautiful sunny morning.
And, rather fittingly...
The sun is finally back!
The last 24 hours have been the clearest we've had for quite some time. Other than the familiar haze that seems to cling stubbornly to the horizon, we've enjoyed blue skies for most of the day. It was wonderful to feel the warmth of the sun on our faces again. After so many cold, damp days, it lifted our spirits enormously.
We've picked up a little favourable current, which is always welcome, but with very little wind to help us along, progress is still fairly slow. Even so, everything feels easier when the sun is shining. Somehow the miles don't seem quite so hard-earned.
As the evening drew in, the sun slowly disappeared into the haze that permanently hangs around the horizon. We still haven't enjoyed one of those spectacular sunsets you see in holiday brochures. Instead, the sun simply melts into the mist until it's gone.
Maybe we'll get one before we reach home.
The night sky, however, made up for it.
It was the clearest we've seen since leaving Canada.
The stars closest to the horizon were still hidden behind the haze, but higher up the sky was spectacular. The Big Dipper, also known as The Plough, is actually part of the larger constellation Ursa Major – the Great Bear. It's one of the easiest patterns to recognise, and the two stars at the end of its "bowl" point almost directly towards Polaris, the North Star, making it an invaluable navigation aid that sailors have relied on for centuries.
It's one of my favourite constellations to find.
The night remained calm, making for another peaceful rowing shift, and before long we were greeted by a beautiful sunrise. Once again the haze softened everything, but it also made the rising sun glow a deep crimson red as it climbed slowly above the horizon.
Sometimes the haze hides the view.
Sometimes it creates one.
We row on now into another sunny morning.
Looking ahead at the forecast, though, it seems the weather still has a few tricks up its sleeve. Stronger winds are expected to arrive later today... and they may not be coming from quite the direction we'd like.
Let's see what the North Atlantic has planned for us next.
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Dawn
“Together Paul and I are rowing home — the long way round.”
Hometown Row
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