Sunday 18th January

(Covering the last 24 hours)

Oops — I got the date wrong yesterday!

Not a bad error rate, all things considered, given we’re now 34 days at sea, living in a tiny rowing boat with ongoing sleep deprivation and a diet that would make a nutritionist wince.

Some people who have rowed oceans — and therefore truly understand what life is like out here — are astounded that I manage to write these blogs at all. I did the same on my solo row too.

For me, the blogs are far more than just updates. They’re a way to debrief the day. Writing forces me to pause, reflect, and process what’s happened — the good, the bad, and the utterly bizarre. It helps me make sense of long, repetitive days and mentally draw a line under each 24-hour period before starting the next one.

They’re also a way of staying connected — to home, to people following along, and to a sense of normality. And finally, they become a record. When you’re this tired, days blur into each other very quickly. Writing anchors memories that would otherwise disappear into the Atlantic behind us.

🌊 Staying Sharp

The bigger winds are bringing some fantastic following seas, which we love. But they also come with the occasional rogue wave — the kind that hits like a freight train from absolutely nowhere. So even when conditions feel good, you have to keep your wits about you at all times.

🧦 The Reality of Life On Board

It’s been very grey and overcast today, so I’ll put off washing clothes until tomorrow. Thankfully, I’ve got spare socks — although the pair I’ve been wearing recently are now so impregnated with dried salt water that they literally stand up on their own.

Washing salt out of clothing isn’t just about comfort — it’s essential. Salt sores can develop quickly and, if they become infected, could genuinely end your row. To prevent that, I keep a constant rotation of clothing going: underwear, thin shorts, a sports top… and, of course, the infamous self-supporting socks.

🧼 Discipline Equals Safety

Staying motivated to wash yourself, clean clothes, and keep on top of personal admin is absolutely critical out here. It’s very easy to say you’re too tired — and that’s when things start to escalate. Small lapses quickly turn into big problems at sea.

So despite the fatigue, we stick to our routines. And honestly?

Our boat will probably arrive almost as clean as when we left.

Onwards.

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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