Saturday 10th January
- dawnysmiff
- Jan 10
- 2 min read
(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 can cope with that; we’re not out here chasing speed records), but the feeling that we were the only ones stuck in a rut.
It feels like things are back in line now — and we’re still pushing hard.
🧠 Mental Resilience
One of the biggest things ocean rowing teaches you is that you are capable of far more than you give yourself credit for.
More than once on this crossing, I’ve sat there at the start of a shift wondering how on earth I’m going to get through the next three hours, genuinely believing I can’t do it. And yet — every single time — I have. It’s not always pretty, but it happens.
Out here, there is no option to give up. You simply keep going. And that’s what mental resilience really is — not feeling strong or motivated all the time, but continuing to put one foot in front of the other (or one oar in the water) when everything in you is saying stop.
That lesson applies far beyond ocean rowing. In everyday life, resilience is about facing challenges head-on, breaking them down into manageable pieces, and trusting that if you keep showing up, you’ll get through them — even when the outcome feels a long way off.
☕ Keeping Spirits Up
We’re continuing our slightly crazy evening videos over coffee — a way of keeping spirits high, staying connected, and talking through the day together. It’s become a really important part of our routine.
And of course… Pineapple Friday was yesterday 🍍 — which always helps morale!
🚢 A Passing Giant
A big ship passed us this morning on its way to Canada. Probably just as well we didn’t ask for a tow — we’d have ended up going very much the wrong way!
Onwards and upwards.
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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🌐 Or visit the website: www.rowaurora.co.uk
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