The major frustration with having the power anchor out was that as far as the weather was concerned this was a stunner – not a cloud in the sky, temperatures in the mid 30’s, gentle seas and a nice cooling breeze. Unfortunately both the current and the wind completely disabled our ability to make any progress in a forward direction which starts to play havoc with your mind - it all just feels so wrong, but it had happened before and we just had to accept it and wait for conditions to change...oh the joys of the waiting game.
Whilst we sat bobbing, praying and in a state of constant agitation re whether the wind had or had not changed (which was a topic discussed approx every 5 mins with each and every one of us having a differing opinion – infact one of the most over used but inappropriate phrases heard aboard the boat during this trip has been ‘i think it’s changed’ or ‘yup it’s definitely tracking round’, when referring to our desperate plea for the wind to move – more often than not both phrases would be misplaced dashing all hopes that had been built up.
With the elements so pleasant it at least gave us an opportunity to do some of the things on board that we had been meaning to do but had never had the time. First up was to sort out the fishing gear and try and make something that would at least resemble a conventional fishing set up. We had been on the ocean packed full of fish for 60 days now and hadn’t had so much as a bite so now was the time to rectify this...enter our lethal weapon the ‘rubber chicken’ lure...surely a meal way too appealing for even the fattest, fullest of fishes.
In addition G’Pa was given a bit of a spring clean, our bedding aired for the first time since we left (our apologies to all sea life in the vicinity whilst this was done), barnacles scraped off the bottom of the boat, and the sleeping quarters were given a quick once over...a job i wouldn’t wish upon anyone. Aside from that we finished off the RFP quiz challenge and i’m delighted to tell you that the mullet/microphone beat Dora and Delia on a tie break question...and i dedicate this victory to all those teams at Mad Dogs and Englishmen back in Milford, NZ!
This break also gave us a chance to open up a couple more party packs, more in a desperate search of chocolate than anything else but sadly our search ended fruitless. Anyway we opened the one Bex had put aside for a rainy day and also the one for a blue day and with hindsight it was a great call because one contained a load of unbelievably touching messages from prostate cancer sufferers, or people who had been directly affected by the disease through other people close to them who had been struck down by the disease. This was a very poignant moment for me personally, not just because i too had a personal connection but more because this once again brought back the focus to exactly why we were doing this and what it was we were really trying to achieve. Yes it was frustrating that the other teams were getting away from us but the cause of the challenge was so much more important and we had to remember completion had always been and still was our primary goal...although the competitive nature of the crew would ensure we did our level best to win as well. This was just the sort of tonic i needed as it helped allay the frustrations about not moving and instead brought a renewed sense of resolve and patience to my mind – yes we wanted to get there in the best possible speed and quickest possible time (or at least my bottom does) but at the heart of the race was the cause and we needed to use this as the key motivation to getting us home.
At about 2.30pm and after yet another group discussion about whether the wind had/had not changed and whether eh currents had softened we all decided it was time to pull it in and give it a crack. Despite the apparent benign conditions we had already gone backwards approx 10 miles so enough was enough – even if it hadn’t all changed just treading water would be better than going backwards...better for the soul if not the body.
Sadly as soon as we got cracking it soon became brutally apparent that nothing had changed, and yet again our heads had been ruled by our hearts which so desperately wanted to believe change was afoot. Regardless we just put the heads down and grinded it out for the rest of the day and that night making very little progress but thankfully going forwards. The night shift was nothing short of torturous with a non stop light show taking place on the horizon to the south of us and a number of angry cloud bursts over head – one of which was without a doubt the heaviest i have ever had the pleasure of being subjected to and which left Pete and I completely disabled on the oars for the best part of an hour. This was not the sort of stuff you should venture outside in let alone sit out on deck on a rowing boat but when it’s your shift, come rain or shine you’re on the oars. This was one of those moments where you can do nothing but laugh, in an ironic sense because this was anything but funny as yet again the weather gods vented their anger in a way that was unimaginable before now. Anyhow it was only water and if nothing else helped wash off the layers of salty mascara that had built up during the day...
So all in all a hard day both mentally and physically but as always we could do nothing more other than hope tomorrow would bring fresh hope...if only because every time we had a blip like this it brought with it added pressure on the already stretched food rations.
Mmm the craving for chocolate goes on...
Bizarre moment of the day: being passed by a floating TV – praise the lord it didn’t hit us.
Worst moment of the day: when Tom dropped the line right in to the middle of a big school of fattened Yellow Fin Tuna only for them all to ignore it.
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