🌅 Hometown Row – A Week of Big Milestones, Big Emotions, and Final Prep

dawnysmiff
17 hours ago
3 min read

Hello everyone,

What a week it’s been since the last blog. Everything suddenly feels very real, very close, and very emotional — in the best possible way.

🚣‍♀️ Penny B Touches the Atlantic

This week we launched Penny B into the marina, giving her her first taste of the Atlantic. I wasn’t prepared for how emotional that moment would be.

Seeing her floating there — the boat we will trust with our lives — was overwhelming in a quiet, powerful way. She looked completely at home, as if she had been waiting for this exact moment.

Once she settled into her berth, we set to work unpacking, sorting and stowing every item safely for the crossing. It’s precise, hands-on work that makes everything feel real.

👋 Our Other Halves Arrive

A lovely moment this week was the arrival of Stewart and Ruth — mine and Paul’s partners.

This is actually the first time they have ever met, but as long-time partners of ocean rowers, they instantly had plenty to talk about!

Support crews rarely get the spotlight, but they are such a huge part of making an expedition like this possible. It’s been wonderful having them here.

🧭 First Row in La Gomera

Today we took Penny B out for our first proper row since arriving. Just a couple of hours — but enough to test every system onboard.

And she performed beautifully:

Watermaker started first time
Autohelm held a lovely straight course
All electronics steady and reliable

I’m particularly pleased with the autohelm calibration — part good conditions, part the settings I programmed in. Fingers crossed she behaves the same when things get wilder out there.

The boat feels good. We feel ready.

🎒 Final Items to Pack

We’re now down to the final pieces of personal kit. Believe it or not, everything I’m taking for the next 50+ days must fit into one 20-litre dry bag.

My list includes:

5 pairs of underwear
2 pairs of shorts
A couple of warm layers
Foul weather gear
Bar of soap
Toothbrush

…plus a few other essentials — all squeezed into that one tiny dry bag!