Monday 19th January
- dawnysmiff
- Jan 19
- 2 min read
(Covering the last 24 hours)
We’re keeping the miles ticking over, which is not as easy as it might sound when you factor in the constantly changing sea state.
Last night we had a knockdown — when a big side wave hits the boat hard enough to swamp the deck, taking everything with it that isn’t properly secured, all in the blink of an eye. There’s no time to react, no warning, no chance to quickly put anything away.
Paul was on the oars at the time and, in the darkness, took a solid whack to the shins. To add to the confusion, one of the water containers — although still attached to the boat — had shifted from its normal position. Camouflaged by the white sea foam, it took a moment to work out why the water suddenly felt solid under his feet.
Once things settled, we did a quick welfare check on each other. The conclusion? We’re running a good ship. Nothing had come free from the boat, everything was still secured — including ourselves. Apart from waiting for daylight to dry things out a bit, we were able to dust ourselves down and carry on.
It’s not a night shift we’d want to repeat in a hurry, but moments like that really underline the value of training and experience. When something goes wrong at sea, you don’t rise to the occasion — you fall back on what you know, what you’ve practised, and the systems you’ve put in place.
⚓ Experience Matters
Incidents like this are a reminder that ocean rowing isn’t just about fitness or endurance — it’s about seamanship. Knowing how to secure your boat, how to move safely on deck, how to check in with your crewmate and calmly assess the situation makes all the difference when things get lively.
There’s no panic, no drama — just problem-solving and getting on with the job.
🤝 Trust and Teamwork
Trust plays a huge role out here. Trust in the boat, trust in the systems, and most importantly, trust in each other. Knowing that your crewmate will react calmly and competently allows you to do the same.
By morning, it was business as usual — tired, a bit bruised, but moving forward once again.
That’s ocean rowing. Take the hit, learn from it, and keep going.
Dawn
“Together Paul and I are rowing home — the long way round.”
Hometown Row
Leg 1 – La Gomera to Antigua
Leg 2 – Antigua to Florida
Leg 3 – Canada to the UK
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