Whales and washouts
Conditions are favourable with both crews enjoying around 15 knots of wind on the stern. As the row enters the last few days time seems to slow down for the crews. The prospect of dry land is looming ever closer and with the end in sight, the aches and pains become even more apparent. Bodies are starting to degrade. They just need to hold out a few more days.
These last few days have been particularly eventful for Atlantic Dagger, who encountered two whales surfacing right next to the boat. When rowing the ocean such intimate encounters with nature are both oar inspiring [pun intended] and a huge boost to morale!
However it’s not all plain sailing (rowing) when you have a lapse in drill. The mid-Atlantic is often oppressively hot, and with the sun beating down the cabin quickly becomes an oven. The temptation to crack the hatch to allow a through draft is savage. This lapse in best practice can be fine in flat calm conditions and can provide a good opportunity to dry the cabin out. However, it is not recommended in 20kt winds!
The temptation to break protocol has bitten them in the proverbial several days in a row, when waves have washed through the cabin soaking everything. Not an enviable position when coming off shift looking forward to a rest, to find that your bed is now a swamp.
Atlantic Dagger are now expected to land in in approximately 4-5 days time. More updates on Cockleshell to follow in the next post.
