When grinding out a 2km test on a rowing machine which lasts maybe 6 or 7 minutes it’s natural that energetic pump-up music is chosen. Of course when the duration of the session is significantly longer, the mood of music generally selected alters significantly. Both crews have a Bluetooth speakers and their phones which are…

Rowing the Atlantic is a unique challenge and everyone who is able to complete the route returns with an array of unique stories. Although one stint on the oars may sound very similar to another, (hint: it is often identical) every shift does have the capacity to be a one-off. Those who are rowing the…

After around a week of stronger weather conditions there is relief in slight for the crews. Wind speeds are due to drop over the next 24 hours from 16-20kts down to 12-16kts. Then on Sunday they’re expected to decrease again from 14kts in the morning to around 7kts in the afternoon. A gentle breeze to…

It seems that as expected the rougher weather is now starting to take its toll on the boats as well as the crews. The stronger winds and waves which the crews have been witnessing over the last week or so have rarely threatened their safety, but they have impacted their dryness. Today Cockleshell Endeavour reported…

After 2 weeks on the water the crews continue perform admirably. They’re currently about 5 days into a period of stronger winds which are receiving a mixed welcome from the crews. It doesn’t seem to have made much of a difference to Team Cockleshell Endeavour who continue to be ruthlessly determined to hit their waypoints…

We are used to being in constant contact with anyone we like when on land. Voice calls have been replaced by video calls and we all receive multiple photos every day from friends, colleagues and relations, whether on social media or via WhatsApp or similar. At sea things are a little bit more basic. The…

The crews continue to exemplify toughness by maintaining their excellent pace and at the time of posting there is less than one nautical mile in the difference between the crews distance to Barbados. Cockleshell Endeavour continue to take the slightly more northerly (and direct) route. Atlantic Dagger are a little further to the south. Common…

The crews have continues their excellent pace over the last few days it’s clear that they’re also starting to uncover the struggle. Thus far the weather has been relatively benign with the strongest winds seen so far no more than about 12kts. That is about to change as this week the crews will start to…

Despite spending 10 days rowing their hearts out over 500nm of unforgiving ocean, the crews are still only about 10nm apart from each other. They’re a little too far apart to wave at each other but that distance is in flux, so we certainly wouldn’t be surprised if they do get close enough for a…

Scraping your bottom may not sound like fun, but on an ocean row boat it can be a pleasant change. Let me explain. The crews have painted the hulls of their boats in antifoul paint. This slimy paint discourages algae and barnacle growth but the most determined barnacles still break through. They attach themselves to…