The build up to Christmas saw some of the roughest weather the team has experienced so far with some near capsizes and constant practicing of wet and dry drills. 25 knot winds and 3m+ waves contributed to a slight drop in morale; as anyone can imagine, trying to row and sleep in those conditions is not easy.
By Christmas day the wind speeds had dropped considerably making the waves a much more manageable height and the team were able to enjoy some Christmassy snacks including stollen and Christmas cake which had found their way onto the boat. A very enjoyable addition to normal rations! The sun also made an appearance enabling the team to enjoy a dip in the ocean.
Getting in the water to clean the bottom of the boat of barnacles is essential for reducing the drag of the boat. After 19 days at sea barnacles can cause a 0.5 knot reduction in speed if not removed. This can be a little scary, especially knowing other teams have had a marlin strike!
Some facts from over the Christmas period:
- The team have completed their 100th session each – that’s 200 hours each on the oars!
- The team are currently rowing through the deepest part of the Ocean – 5,000 m below them is the sea floor… that’s also the closest land to them!
- They are nearly at the halfway point.
