It has been a hectic week out in La Gomera, the starting place for our 3,000 mile row across the Atlantic Ocean. Energy, excitement and tension are all high. In order to get the whole fleet out and away from the islands safely, the race organisers of The World’s Toughest Row require a two day weather window, hence why we are now starting the race on 13th December. This is to ensure that no crews are pushed back towards land, especially those rowing solo.
Training out in La Gomera has been fully pared back, with a daily swim and some very light cardio and mobility to keep us on track. As a team, we flew through our pre - launch inspection, with all of our preparation having paid off and very few tasks to finish before we start. SS1, our boat, was hoisted into the water on Tuesday and it was lovely to be back on the oars after over two months away from her. It was very different to feel how she moved in the water, after she was fully loaded with all of our food and equipment. On Friday, we went out for our confirmatory row to ensure our water maker was fully functional and to calibrate our auto tillers, which will help us keep to our course over the 3,000 miles.
It was fantastic to meet up with some other crews on our flight over here, and it has felt like a completely different world on this island, surrounded by 37 other teams who will be undertaking this challenge. Alongside Ace of Blades, 94 other rowers will attempt to row from La Gomera to Antigua, with arrivals on the other side starting in January and expected until March or even April. Everyone out here has their own reasons for taking part and although the World’s Toughest Row is a competitive race, the feeling of camaraderie and support is overwhelming.
There were unfortunately some boats damaged in transit from the UK to La Gomera, which has meant that some crews have been left in limbo whilst the issues are repaired in Tenerife. However all boats have now returned to the island and the full fleet are eagerly anticipating the confirmed race start, so we can head out into the deep blue, almost three years since we started out on our campaign.
The main focus now is continuing to prepare as a team, discussing our hopes, dreams and fears, whilst maintaining the level of concentration and conscientiousness we have instilled in our planning up to this point. We still have to confirm our intended route, which although we have planned, is entirely weather dependent and changing every day. We continue to run through our crisis operations, ensuring we know the procedure in case of any major incidents and helping us to remain as calm as possible. Finally, we intend to spend these last few days making the most of the time we have left before the race with our loved ones. We are incredibly lucky to be supported by such enthusiastic and resilient individuals, who have watched and advised us when necessary throughout the past few years. We cannot wait to do them all proud and step onto land in Antigua, knowing all of our blood, sweat and tears was worth it.
We are also incredibly grateful to all of our sponsors who have made this incredible adventure possible. This would not have been possible without their time and resources and we are eternally grateful for this opportunity. Next stop, the Atlantic Ocean!
