JAMIE

Somehow we had forgotten just how uncomfortable every aspect of life onboard an ocean rowing boat is. There’s no escape.

In many ways being on the oars is the most comfortable place to be. There was a slight uneasiness entering the shift patterns last night. With conditions slightly beam on, we all knew that with a big wave at the wrong time could result in a capsize. Everything on deck was tied down with a lanyard - something that should have really been done before departure.

There’s a bucket filled with limes, mangoes and a couple avocados mid ship; the last fresh fruit/veg we’ll have for several months. We want it to go somewhere safe but there just in any space inside the deck hatches or cabins. If the sea claims it, we’ll have to make our peace with that.

The cabins are really quite uncomfortable. The stern is damp from the wave that made its way in yesterday afternoon, and the bow is so full with food that once you lie down you cannot move.

Everything on deck is soaked, and with a side wave washing over us every 10 minutes there’s no point trying to remain dry. Soggy bottoms to say the least. We all hope for conditions to move round to the east and more to stern, then we’ll be in surfing territory.

Morale is defiantly high. Fuelling up till now has been a necessity but not enjoyable, but our appetites seem to be returning. Veggie chilli with fresh avocado/lime a highlight from today, shortly followed by lamb saag and chutney. My freeze dried food doesn’t seem to have gone off!

Note to self: don’t visit the bucket during flying fish rush hour. Makes for a challenging trip to the bog.