Blog from Jamie..Sunday 13th July 2014. We are currently experiencing a real lull in speed. Whilst we have calm following conditions, the winds are weak and for the first time this trip we are battling to maintain a steady 2.2 knts. This in many ways is the most torturous part of ocean rowing. The hands are under far more pressure as are the joints in the knees and elbows as you’re trying to pull as hard as possible through what feels like treacle. This is when it can get really boring at times. However, good conversation has remained throughout and I’m very lucky to have 3 crew mates with such a good library of anecdotes. Our power problems seem to have balanced themselves out. About 10 days ago we ran the energy intensive water maker perhaps too early in the day when the sun was not strong enough. The battery levels dropped to 12.1 volts and we had a very nervous 24hrs as we did all we could to charge them up again. We switched off the electrics and allowed the efoy to charge for a whole day and night but still they wouldn’t go north of 12.4. Now some week later we can hit 13.3 with the efoy but we would have been in a very different scenario without the marvellous machine. The food on board has been of a poor quality. I tried again and again to get the European freeze dried food into Australia but was finally denied hence the decision to go with the NZ brand Black Country Cuisine. Unfortunately for us we have had many poor tasting meals so expect us to turn up slim! That said we are getting down what we need (obviously since we are still here)! During 4 of the 6 off shifts we all try and sleep for as long as possible but for 2 we often are talking and discussing our plans for the next couple of days. The remaining time is spent making water, food, brushing teeth and combing hair and beards. Thank goodness for my tangle teaser – What a savior. Right now the weather is so bleak. We haven’t seen the sun for 3 days and it is grey and drizzling constantly. Still, we battle on! I really miss Camembert. xx Email Scanned by BBS MessageAngel
Posted on: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 14:56:54 +0000