JAMIE
I really feel myself attracting what I am thinking.
After a very frustrating day 12, with a multitude of technical issues, poor fuelling/hydration, a scald on my toes, and terrible rowing conditions, it’s easy to fall into a negative headspace. Quickly the whole experience becomes hard and overwhelming.
Unsurprisingly, the first night shift is bleak to say the least. The discomfort when you’re rowing, resting, eating or sleeping is ever present. There’s just no escape. We need to get used to this. As Nedd Brockman (an inspiration to the three of us) says; we need to get comfortable being uncomfortable.
We start the day determined to turn a new leaf. We can’t control the weather, technical issues are inevitable, we must fuel well, keep on top of hydration, and above all stay positive. There is a shift. Ewan steps up to the oars after having psyched himself up at the bow, Can’t Stop by the Red Hot Chillies is playing on the speaker, he’s ready to go the full 12 rounds and then some.
We have a visitor. For the first time a bird has landed on the boat, perching itself on the solar panels on the stern before settling on the Starlink terminal. We’ve named him/her Steve. White bodied, grey wings with black tail, black head and orange feet. Black eyes with a slightly demonic red outline. I think it’s a seagull…
Steve entertains us with a brief landing on Lachlan’s head.
Steve just shat on the solar panels and Starlink. I think this is going to become an issue. After repeating this offence I have to start chasing him/her off in between shifts. Ewan and Lala finding it all very entertaining.
We decide to clean the hull. I dive into the big blue, harnessed to the boat. This always makes me feel uneasy. 700 miles from land, 3 miles deep, you just can’t stop thinking about killer whales and sharks. There is up to 1 inch of marine growth on the hull in places, a staggering amount for only two weeks at sea. We scrape away for 2 hours, rinse off with fresh water, pop on the Pacific playlist and glide through the water at what feels like double the speed.
Maybe we’re just starting to get a bit more comfortable in the very uncomfortable environment, but something is changing.