What am I doing?
Although the directive, put simply, is “keep rowing until you get there,” the race is far from straightforward. I will face a range of physical challenges—such as sleep deprivation, salt sores, and blistered hands, to name just a few—and I will, of course, be at the constant mercy of the ocean.
It all starts in San Sebastián on La Gomera in the Canary Islands, where the other teams and I will nervously gather to begin our voyages to English Harbour in Antigua. Once land disappears from view, I probably won’t see it again for 1–2 months. I’ve always struggled with being by myself, so this part of the challenge is perhaps the most daunting for me at the moment. I will have to cope with this solitary existence while in an acutely hostile environment. I’ll be facing scorching temperatures, 20-foot waves, huge Atlantic storms, and the increasingly common threat of marlin attacks (see picture where the bill has gone through the hull, the mattress and into the sleeping cabin…) among several other challenges.
It won’t all be painful doom and gloom, though. There’s the chance of seeing incredible wildlife (such as the shot this turtle here, taken by my dad…), and when you consider that, on average, more people will climb Mount Everest in a single year than have ever rowed an ocean, it helps put things into perspective. If I succeed, I can remind myself that I’ll be joining a rather elite little club of people who were just silly enough to think this was a good idea!
It’s going to be a long road to the start line, with many past rowers telling me that most participants find that 80% of the work lies in simply getting to La Gomera with the boat fully loaded and everything in place to begin. With that in mind, thank you for taking the time to stop by and show interest in this project. I may be taking on the main challenge alone, but I couldn’t do it without the help, support, and encouragement of so many others.
However, it’s a club I’ve felt connected to for most of my life. My dad completed the row as part of a pair in 2003, taking part in the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race, the third-ever race across the Atlantic. I grew up hearing stories from his time out there, and I suppose I’m wondering whether I would be able to follow in his footsteps.
