Solo Atlantic Row 2011

So here I am. Back on dry land after 82 days, 8 hours and 40 minutes at sea. It has been a hugely surreal few days since I arrived into Port St Charles, Barbados on Thursday morning, yet as I am sure you can imagine a truly amazing time. Before I talk about what I have been up to since arriving, I will quickly run through my last 24 hours at sea. On Wednesday morning, day 81, the outline of the Barbadian coast finally came into view as I moved to within about 30 miles of the island. The weather for my last day was perfect rowing conditions, 16-18 knots, 2-3m swell, current following and up until lunchtime I thoroughly enjoyed myself, savouring the feeling of being helped along which I had rarely felt in the previous 6 weeks or so. At around midday and 25 miles out, I realised...

The last few days have produced some good weather that is set to continue for my final run into Barbados. The winds are averaging about 15kn and some good current helped me to drop south into the position I am in now. With some good miles made I am now 56.6 miles from Port St Charles in the NW of Barbados. My expected arrival into the Port is Thursday, currently looking at around about mid morning local time. My aim is to get to within about 20 miles in the next 24 hours and then work my way round the North of the island to arrive at the Port Thursday morning. Whilst my crossing time will be taken when I arrive into Port St Charles, ocean rows are officially recognized when a boat crosses the longitude W59° 37’, which is also the longitude of North Point, at the northern tip of...

The end of last week saw what was probably the calmest weather of the wholetrip, or since the last time I said that on this blog. With the end not toofar away now I was able to enjoy these calm days, it made for somespectacular cloud formations which at 23 I never thought I would find myselfsaying. Given that the ‘landscape’ doesn’t tend to change too much roundhere it is thus the sky that gives the change of scenery and obviouslyclouds play an integral part.Over the weekend the wind picked up a bit and I was back to making around 30miles a day. The current, which I think I mentioned in the last blog, is nowsomething that is very much affecting my progress and for the most part hasbeen helping along pushing West, although from time to time it does force meNW as well.Yesterday was a real test with not a...

The week or so since my last update has been mixed, with the conditions generally making for slow going and for some very frustrating days. Even so currently at 467 so less than 500 miles to go! For the most part the winds have stayed low and the currents have dictated whether I can make some headway or not. During the last 5 days or so the currents have been coming from the SE during the day, thus pushing me N, and more or less from the W overnight. Saturday proved to be one of the toughest days I have had to deal with as the wind picked up from the SE as well as the current from the same direction, making rowing SW very difficult. Saturday also brought with it the breakdown of my electric watermaker. The motor that powers the pump gave up the fight and although I spent...

This last week has been the longest and most tiring of the crossing so far, not just because of the inevitable effect of 50 days rowing taking its toll on the body, more that the weather has made for some testing rowing conditions. For the most part of this last week I have had between 10-14 knots of wind and swell of 0.5-1.5m. Often the wind has all but disappeared and along with ever increasing temperatures, one day last week it reached 36°C on deck, it has been heavy going. While most would see these as very idyllic conditions to be in, I can assure you that rowing in them is tough. At times I have also found myself fighting against a swell pushing me north, just to add to the fun and games of it all! It would seem that these are the sorts of conditions I can expect now...