Wednesday 5th August- Day 41
- dawnysmiff
- Aug 5
- 3 min read
One of the broken oats from yesterday sponsored by Dave Lawrence. Apparently he still wants to keep it,
The conditions remained pretty gnarly throughout the day, but with daylight everything felt much less daunting.
After the excitement of the previous night’s knockdown, the strategy completely changed.
It wasn’t about rowing as hard as possible.
It was all about keeping the boat pointing in the right direction and preventing her from becoming weathercocked—where the wind catches the boat and turns her sideways to the waves.
So rather than rowing continuously, we spent much of the time poised with the oars, ready to spring into action the moment we saw the bow beginning to wander off course. A few well-timed strokes were often all that was needed to keep Penny B pointing safely into the seas.
It was a very different kind of rowing.
During all of this we had another unexpected challenge.
Our AIS collision alarm kept sounding.
The culprit wasn’t a ship, but a series of AIS targets called MMAZANTEU Buoys. These are offshore navigation or monitoring buoys transmitting an AIS signal so vessels know exactly where they are. (IALA)
Because they’re fixed in position, the AIS sometimes struggles to calculate a sensible course and speed, so every now and again it decided they were apparently on a collision course with us!
The alarm would suddenly scream into life, we’d both look around expecting to see a ship bearing down on us…
…only to realise it was the same buoy again.
Very annoying!
Thankfully, unlike the weather, those were easy to deal with.
During one of the bigger waves we were treated to a dolphin surfing effortlessly alongside us before launching completely clear of the water.
What a sight.
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, the ocean gives you another little gift.
By early evening the conditions had eased enough for us to do something we’d been looking forward to all day…
Sit on deck and make some hot food.
If you’ve been following our social media, you’ll know this has become known as “Gordon Ramsay’s Dangerous Kitchens.”
It’s basically two ocean rowers trying to cook dinner on a tiny camping stove in one of the most hostile environments on Earth!
Sadly, Gordon still hasn’t discovered our cooking show.
So if anyone reading this happens to know him…
Please point him our way!
The rest of the night went brilliantly.
There was enough wind to keep us moving at a decent speed, it was coming from a direction that allowed us to hold a good course, and best of all…
No huge waves crashing over the beam.
By this morning the Atlantic had transformed yet again.
It’s still a little cloudy, but there are plenty of patches of blue sky and the sea state is far kinder than it has been over the past few days.
Halfway through my last rowing shift, another pod of dolphins appeared.
They surrounded the boat, surfing the waves and weaving effortlessly around us.
This time I didn’t stop rowing.
I’ve noticed they often seem attracted by the sound and rhythm of the oars splashing through the water, so I simply carried on and watched them darting beneath the hull.
The water is so beautifully clear now that you can see them twisting and turning below the surface before reappearing alongside the boat.
Moments like that never become ordinary.
Now…
An important update on the chocolate situation.
I have devised a plan.
At 400 nautical miles to my waypoint just off Penzance, I rewarded myself with a packet of M&Ms.
This morning we’ve just passed 300 nautical miles, which means…
The Twix has officially been promoted.
At 200 nautical miles I’ll enjoy my second packet of M&Ms.
Then, saving the very best until last…
The Snickers will be eaten at 100 nautical miles to go.
Yes, we still have a long way to row before we finally reach Burnham-on-Crouch, but reaching the south-west tip of England feels like a huge milestone and a very achievable goal now.
This morning’s breakfast?
Sweet and sour chicken.
The conditions are kind.
The music is good.
Everything is gradually drying out after the knockdown.
And life on board Penny B is happy once again.
Dawn
“Together Paul and I are rowing home — the long way round.”
Hometown Row
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