Big seas and a dislocated finger - Steve Easter

So we've had an eventful few days and have all put in some punishing shifts on the oars. The winds have been from the Southeast, which given our course heading has meant the swell is coming from our port side as we row.

We have been permanently in wet weather gear for the past three days and the deck get swamped with large waves from the side every so often. The "sideswipers", as we call them, generally race at the boat using the waves from the following seas a bit like a gutter directs storm water - thus several tons of water hits the boat explosively, pushing it hard over, causing us to fall from our rowing seats and scramble for something to grab onto.

At one point yesterday, such a sideswiper appeared from nowhere and I struck my hand out to brace myself to avoid going overboard (we are always attached) and ended up dislocating my left hand pinky finger. It wasn't until I'd finished my rest period and putting my socks back on again did I notice the odd angle. When I began to row again, I felt the pain and I rowed for an hour but with lifting that finger away from the oar handle.

A little after the change in crew from the rear cabin, I had to brace with the oar in my left hand hard - I felt and heard a big crack from my affected digit and I'd managed to pop it back into position and full mobility was restored!

As far as the rest of today has gone, we've elected to preserve crew health and stay as safe as possible, we are making good progress just drifting. Al has been doing his numbers and is meticulously deducting his degrees and minutes - I can't share his predictions as it'd tempt fate, but watch this space.

So, for our fantasy shopping foray, this is what our crew wanted. Allan wanted a clean pair of shorts and some flip flops, Ben wanted fresh bread and a block of butter, Chris wanted broccolini or as we know it, tenderstem broccoli and as for myself an ice cold orange Fanta

That's all for now...

Bonus update - earlier post was planned to have gone out two days ago but due to depleted batteries we prioritised water making over internet.

So we hope we're coming towards the end of this adventure - at of the time of typing this we are 400 miles away from Rodriguez Island - we need to pass close but give a 10 nm wide berth to ensure we don't run into the reef systems - from there its a mere 350 nm to Grand Baie in Mauritius.

For the last couple of days we have drifted towards our goal without rowing - simply because it was too hazardous. Today the sun is shining and it's the first time for a while where it's been dry on deck.

We should start to see signs of civilisation withing the next few days, rowing boats approaching your shorelines tend to attract the attention of border patrol or coastguard traffic and I expect we will be intercepted shortly - generally they are curious and like to have a good chat so it's something to look forward to. At times the closest other humans to us have been on the Space Station and it'll be a shock to the system when we finally make landfall!

Hopefully I'll get a couple more posts done before we arrive and as we approach shallower water perhaps capture some wildlife to observe too, but I'd really like to thank you for taking the time out of your day to read a bit about our adventures, your comments, suggestions and participation has made it worthwhile and given me a focus aside from the day-to-day grind.

That's all for today....

Steve