Wednesday 7th January
- dawnysmiff
- Jan 7
- 2 min read
(Covering the last 24 hours)
We passed the halfway mark at 3pm yesterday — a moment that definitely deserved celebrating. Naturally, it was marked with a loud, slightly off-key chorus of Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer echoing across the Atlantic.
Getting past halfway is a huge mental hurdle. Until that point, every mile feels like you’re still heading into the challenge. Once the numbers tip the other way, something shifts. You’re no longer just leaving where you started — you’re actively going towards somewhere. The destination suddenly feels real rather than theoretical, and that does wonders for morale.
📈 Big Miles, Big Boost
We covered 63 nautical miles in the last 24 hours, which — other than the first few days — is one of our biggest mileages so far. After the slow, grinding days of the past couple of weeks, it feels incredibly satisfying to see the numbers stack up again.
We’re genuinely chuffed with that progress. It’s proof that the persistence through the hard stuff is paying off, and that the boat, the routing, and the teamwork are all coming together when conditions allow.
🌊 Not the Easy Option
Over the past hour, conditions have become a bit confused. Wind, waves, and current are all coming from different angles, which makes rowing properly hard work.
In these faster conditions, the oar handles have a habit of whacking you in the shins, knees, pelvis, and occasionally knocking you clean out of your seat. It’s a good reminder that speed doesn’t mean easy.
That said — we are absolutely not wishing for the no-wind days back. Not even slightly.
🔢 The Next Countdown
The next big milestone is 1,000 miles to go. There’s something incredibly motivating about watching the countdown drop from four digits to three.
Then it’s all downhill from there…
(That was very much tongue-in-cheek.)
There’s still a lot to come, but conversations are already starting to shift towards arrival logistics and what we’ll need to do to prepare for Leg 2 to Florida. Nothing can be locked in yet — the weather will play a huge role — but contacts are being lined up and routes are being studied.
For now though, it’s back to the oars and keeping the momentum going.
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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