Wednesday 24th December – Christmas Eve
- dawnysmiff
- Dec 24, 2025
- 2 min read
(Covering the last 24 hours)
It’s Christmas Eve.
Most of the time out here I immerse myself fully in the row — dealing with the job in hand, hour by hour, shift by shift. But as Christmas approaches, it’s impossible not to let my thoughts drift home.
I imagine friends and family busy with last-minute shopping, wrapping presents, kitchens warm with food cooking, Christmas music playing quietly in the background. People coming and going, lists being checked, plans being debated, laughter mixed with the usual festive chaos. That familiar feeling of togetherness that comes with Christmas feels a very long way away right now.
💌 Letters from Home
I have letters from home with me to open along the way, and yesterday I opened two that absolutely made my day.
One was from Fiona, who I rowed with last year — someone who understands exactly what this life feels like.
The other was from Marina, who I first met when she rowed the Pacific with Paul as part of my fleet in 2023.
Both were filled with such thoughtful, supportive words from two wonderful friends. Out here, letters land differently — they reach you right where you need them.
🌅 Sun & Moon
Last night, during our usual half hour together on deck, we watched the sun sink lower and lower toward the horizon. As the light faded, it became dark enough to see the moon setting behind it, following closely in its wake.
I managed to get a great photo — the sun dropping into the ocean with the moon still hanging in the sky just an hour or so behind it. One of those quiet moments you don’t rush.
🐟 Flying Fish… Attack!
Then came the excitement.
During the night I was rowing away, listening to Harry Potter, when a great big flying fish — which will absolutely get bigger every time I tell this story — landed straight in my lap.
It flapped around in panic and before I could grab it, flipped into the narrow gap behind the spare oar down the side of the boat. The spare oar is securely lashed in, so it wasn’t easy to move, and the fish was buzzing away desperately trying to escape.
Eventually, with some careful poking, I managed to guide it out and down the scupper hole. I’m hoping it swam off with nothing more than a bit of a shock and a very good tale to tell.
That definitely broke the shift up somewhat.
🌈 Christmas Eve Sunrise
This morning’s sunrise arrived with scattered showers, breaking the light into fragments. You could see that as a bad thing — but sun and rain bring rainbows.
Sure enough, off the starboard side, a beautiful full rainbow appeared. A pretty perfect Christmas Eve gift from the ocean.
Right — it’s pasta bolognese for breakfast again.
Some traditions follow you wherever you go.
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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