Mathew Bennett. Blog Day 13 (Friday 19th Feb)
“If you’re going through hell, keep going” -Winston Churchill
They say the ocean is a cruel mistress, I think we can add to that she’s psychotic with a serious anger management problem as well. One minute she is caressing us with favourable currents and winds, the next minute we’re heading into darker scenes than J R Tolkien could have ever scribed.
Wednesday morning saw us break free the shackles of the dangerous weather front that had been hampering our progress. After being caged up for 12 hours a day the team was yearning to get back to the job in hand. We spent the first part of the morning being guided through the waves by Oliver as he surfed the crests trying to make up lost time. Towards lunch time the waves and winds had died sufficiently that we could now engage the auto helm. Gladly we slipped back into our comfortable routine alternating between 2 rowers on one shift, 3 on the other. By early evening progress was going remarkably well, Ross and I were making an average of 4kts. The good mood was further elevated by a brief visit by a pod of Dolphins, at last it seemed glory days were back. It’s amazing how a week ago the night shift was a struggle for everyone yet tonight we welcomed the chance to be on the oars.
0600hrs saw Ross and I commenced the neck straining sunrise shift. As the day light creeps in each rower is left looking over their shoulder, poised for what is the lottery of the sunrise. So far we have experienced an amazing variety of displays, this mornings was brief but equally as beautiful. We were gifted with just a small break in between cloud cover, but as she broke through her warming beams spread across the ocean top and the searing sun passed through to eventually settle high up between the clouds. Never wanting to waste an opportunity Ross and I had our t-shirts off appreciating the freedom of topless rowing. This was short lived, the ocean had finished caressing our soul now, once again, she intended to throw another tantrum our way.
As mid day approached Oliver, Foxy and Aldo took to the oars for what would be a thrashing of a double shift. The guys went from long sleeve tops to jackets within 15 mins. First the swell started to pick up from what seemed to be from nowhere, (this should have been our first sign). The winds shortly followed, unfortunately it seemed like it was coming from a variety of directions. Ellida’s auto helm simply couldn’t cope and alarms went off. As always Foxy jumped to action to disengage to system, with our now resident rough weather surf champ Oliver taking the reigns to manually steer. Hoping this was just a passing squall Aldo and Foxy battled for 45 mins in vain, we substituted Ross for Foxy on the oars so that Foxy could speak to the our Master of weather and routing Silver Fox. The news was not good. A freak weather depression off the west coast of Africa was causing havoc and we were about to be batted with winds reaching 25-30kts with large, choppy swell.
We were left with no option but to once again deploy the para anchor. The para anchor should be renamed the ‘Moral Vacuum 2000’ I doubt even Dyson could design something that could suck the drive and enthusiasm out of competitive people like the para anchor does. Once deployed (we’re damn efficient at doing it now) we returned back to the cabin. Faced with a solid 14 hrs stint in the cabin with Oliver and Ross, I offered to go on deck and make a hot dinner for all. Being alone in the wind and rain provided me with a small piece of time where I could just sit and ‘be’ for a moment. I started to take in all that was going on around me; the terrible luck with weather, the hard effort by all, the disappointment, the achievement that we had safely beaten the odds and made it this far, the fact that after 7 years of planning and financing we’re actually rowing the ocean being supported by people all over the world. My moment of peace and reflection was quickly disrupted as a wave hit the boat and the jet boil splashed hot water on me. I returned to my cabin once more, held captive to the weather, a drift in the swell, the hands on my watch moved slowly around, marking the measured tread of time. It was time to close my eyes.
With morning came the first communication between our cabins, once again it’s was far from good news. Foxy had woke in the night and the cabin was short of oxygen. I’d suffered the same the other evening and it leaves you short of breath. The only option in this situation is to open the hatch and allow some air in. As with all of Team Essences timings so far, it couldn’t have been a worse if he tried. As soon as he opened the door a wave crashed down on him, giving Aldo a 10ltr freezing cold Atlantic wake up call. They mopped up what they could and then attempted to sleep. I can honestly say I’ve never seen the guys look so glum and Aldo added that through all of his adventures he’s never experienced a worse sleep. We told the guys to jump into our cabin and and get some sleep whilst Oliver, Ross and I would take in the para anchor and commence the row/surf routine. By lunch time the 2 guys joined us back on deck with somewhat favourable winds returning and now, mid afternoon we’re settling back into the infamous 2hrs on 2hrs off routine. Matt