The Reality of Expedition Preparation

If you've been following our social media over the last few days, you'll know it's been a bit of a rollercoaster.

The good news is that Penny B is ready.

The less good news is that Mother Nature isn't.

Our original plan was to leave on 25th June — which also happens to be my birthday. Unfortunately, the weather has other ideas. Current forecasts show gale and high sea warnings beginning around 1am Thursday morning and continuing through much of Thursday afternoon.

Could we leave before then?

Possibly.

Should we?

Absolutely not.

One of the hardest lessons ocean rowing teaches is patience. Once we leave the dock there is no pulling into a marina, no sheltering behind a headland and no waiting for conditions to improve. The safest place to be during a gale is tied securely alongside.

So, for now, we wait.

As soon as we have confidence in a new weather window, we'll let everyone know.

In the meantime, we've had plenty to keep us occupied.

### Tracking Drama

A few days ago we were convinced our tracking unit had failed.

Not ideal when your friends, family and supporters are expecting to follow your progress across the Atlantic.

After much head scratching, testing and a few choice words, we discovered there was absolutely nothing wrong with it.

The problem was that it is a rental unit and turns on differently to the models we've used before.

Five minutes later it was working perfectly.

Problem solved.

### Watermaker Drama

The biggest challenge though involved the watermaker.

For anyone unfamiliar with ocean rowing, the watermaker is quite literally our lifeline. It turns seawater into drinking water. Without it, the expedition stops.

Or worse.

When we tested it, absolutely nothing happened.

Dead.

After checking the power supply and confirming electricity was reaching the unit, there was really only one likely culprit — the pump.

Thankfully we'd brought a spare.

What followed was approximately five hours of me folded into the watermaker locker with my head, shoulders and arms squeezed into a space clearly designed for somebody much smaller.

Many of the screws could barely be seen, never mind reached.

After around four hours of removing the old pump, wiring in the new one and reconnecting everything, it was finally time for the moment of truth.

Power on.

The right noises.

Water flowing.

Success!

Then my heart sank.

Water was now squirting enthusiastically out of the pipe connections attached to the new pump.

Back to work.

I removed the pipes, warmed the ends to make them more pliable, pushed them back into place and tightened the jubilee clips.

Another hour passed.

Time for test number two.

This time the leaks appeared fixed.

Success!

Almost.

The new pump didn't fit the original mounting bracket.

After a bit of creative engineering, several zip ties and some careful manoeuvring, I managed to secure it safely in position.

Unfortunately, during the process one of the pipe joints moved and sprang yet another leak.

Thankfully this time a simple tightening of the clip did the trick.

One final test.

No leaks.

Water being made.

Happy rowers.

### Ready When the Weather Is

So that's where we are.

The boat is packed.

The equipment is checked.

The tracker is working.

The watermaker is making water.

All that remains is for the North Atlantic to cooperate.

For now we'll continue monitoring the forecasts and waiting for the right opportunity.

Ocean rowing isn't just about pulling an oar. It's about solving problems, adapting to setbacks and making good decisions.

Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is wait.

We'll let you know our new departure date as soon as we can.

---

Dawn

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

Hometown Row

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