The blogs are back!!

dawnysmiff
Jun 12
4 min read

## Well... It's Been a While!

Firstly, apologies for the radio silence!

When you're at sea, writing the daily blogs becomes part of the routine. Once back on land, life has a habit of speeding up and suddenly weeks disappear before you've sat down to write an update.

A lot has happened since the last blog, so here's a bit of a catch-up.

### The End of Leg 1

The Atlantic crossing now feels both a lifetime ago and like it happened yesterday. We arrived into Antigua to an incredible welcome, celebrated a new World Record as the fastest mixed pair to row the Atlantic Ocean east to west, and spent a few weeks enjoying one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean.

The extra time there, although not originally planned, turned out to be a blessing. We met some wonderful people, made new friends, reconnected with old ones, and had the opportunity to reflect on everything we had achieved before turning our attention to the next phase.

### When Plans Change

As many of you will know, the original plan for Leg 2 changed significantly.

Weather, shipping logistics, customs paperwork, trailer arrangements, launch locations, weather windows and a hundred other moving parts all had to come together. Some things were in our control, many were not.

Ocean rowing teaches you very quickly that stubbornly sticking to Plan A is often the fastest route to disaster. Good decision-making means adapting when the situation changes, and that's exactly what we did.

Since then there have been countless meetings, phone calls, route discussions, weather analysis sessions and contingency plans. Some exciting. Some frustrating. All necessary.

### Back To Work

One thing that definitely hasn't stopped is the coaching and training.

Since returning home I've been back doing what I love at Aurora Sea School, helping the next generation of ocean rowers prepare for their own adventures.

We've delivered First Aid courses, Sea Survival training, SRC VHF courses, navigation training and ocean rowing coaching. There is something incredibly rewarding about watching people take their first steps towards a challenge that once seemed impossible.

Many of the teams I coach are now deep into their preparations, learning not only how to row an ocean but how to solve problems, work as a team and remain resilient when things don't go to plan.

Those lessons are every bit as important as learning to pull an oar.

### The Next Adventure Begins

The Hometown Row is far from over.

In fact, it is about to get very real again.

Paul sets off this Sunday for the long drive north from his home in Fernandina Beach to the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club in St John's, Canada. It is a journey of roughly 2,000 miles and will take several days on the road. As anyone who has prepared for an expedition will know, sometimes the adventure starts long before you reach the start line.

The drive itself will be a major logistical exercise, moving equipment, coordinating final arrangements and making sure everything is in place ready for our arrival.

As for me, I fly out to St John's next Saturday, the 20th.

After months of planning, setbacks, route changes and logistics, it feels exciting, slightly surreal and, if I'm honest, a little nerve-wracking. No matter how many oceans I row, there is always that moment when it starts to feel real. The flights get booked, the bags get packed and suddenly you're no longer talking about the expedition — you're living it.

Our current aim is to launch on 25th June, which also happens to be my birthday. What better way to celebrate than setting off across the North Atlantic?

However, experience has taught us that dates on ocean expeditions are always provisional.

We will not leave until Penny B has been fully checked, every item of equipment has been inspected, all safety systems have been tested, and the weather forecast has been analysed thoroughly. There is no point rushing to start only to discover a problem a few days later.

The goal remains exactly the same as it was when we left La Gomera: to connect communities, support our charities, and ultimately row home the long way round.

There have been changes to routes, timings and logistics, but the mission remains unchanged.

If anything, the delays and changes have reinforced one of the biggest lessons of ocean rowing:

You don't control the ocean.

You control how you respond to it.

For now, Penny B remains at the heart of the adventure, plans continue to evolve, and we're working hard behind the scenes to make the next phase happen.

Thank you to everyone who has continued to follow the journey, support the charities, read the blogs and send messages of encouragement.

Your support means far more than you probably realise.

More updates soon.

---

Dawn

“Together Paul and I are rowing home — the long way round.”

Hometown Row

Next Leg