Oardacious sets the pace

The first couple of weeks of the World's Toughest Rowing Race organised by Atlantic Campaigns has seen crews adapting to the challenges of an Atlantic crossing, writes Hilary Bastone.
Thirty-eight ocean rowing boats with 98 ocean rowers representing 10 nations set out from San Sebastian de La Gomera on December 13 to race 3,000 miles unsupported rowing across the Atlantic Ocean west from San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands (280N 180W) to Nelson's Dockyard in English Harbour, Antigua and Barbuda (170N 610W).
The 38 competing crews, 11 solos, 8 pairs, 6 trios, 12 fours and 1 five, includes just one rower from Devon, Sam Glover from Lynmouth rowing solo. The five-boat crew of HMS Oardacious with the crew Rob Clarke, Daniel Seager, Mike Forrester, Ian Allen and Mathew Main are all Royal Navy submariners and crew members Rob Clarke and Mike Forrester have a link to Torbay through their Royal Navy service. Rob was an Assistant Marine Engineer Officer and Mike, currently a Commander, both having served on the now decommissioned submarine HMS Torbay.
HMS Oardacious currently leads the race and Sam Glover who is currently in 13th place, leads the solos.
The first week brought near-capsizes, meteor showers and a heavy weight freighter within one nautical mile of one boat. The World's Toughest Row - Atlantic 2023 started with a bang. All the training and all the preparation has come down to this and the crews are putting the theory to practice. This year has been incredibly unusual in the trade wind patterns, particularly with their high northward direction. The waves have been big, and brutal, and thrown the crews around with several experiencing knockdowns and getting thrown from their seats.
The inevitable sea-sickness has come hard and fast, and is particularly notable this year with the huge rolling waves. Across the fleet, crews are starting to assimilate to life on the seas and getting used to the routine: Eat, Sleep, Row, Repeat!
The teams have also seen some incredible sights, with huge schools of dolphins and fish, a shark and even a bee, yes, you heard that right! A true highlight for the crews, as with most years, is the indescribable night skies. Its hard to put into words the feeling of being in a small ocean rowing boat in a very big ocean, hundreds of miles from land while you look up towards showers of meteor and stars, with stars painting the sky from horizon to horizon
Looking forward, the winds will predominantly come from the east, occasionally shifting between east-southeast and east-northeast. These winds, which initially pushed some crews towards the north, will soon veer more easterly. Waves, mostly coming from the east at heights between 2 to 2.5 metres, will contribute to fast-paced conditions, albeit with a slightly erratic swell. Conditions are becoming more manageable.
Most teams are now seasoned experts at using, but probably not big fans of their para-anchor but nevertheless the equipment is crucial and minimises any extra days the teams will spend at sea by keeping the backwards miles to a minimum.
Many of you who are following the race have probably at some point heard or read the saying, ROW EAT SLEEP REPEAT - but is that all?
After two hours of rowing, which is the general and most commonly used rowing shift pattern, priority number one is usually replenishment of the very important calories. The rowers need between 4,000 to 6,500 calories a day to ensure performance and the relentless rowing schedule can be kept up. Besides the high calorie dry food they also have snack packs containing goodies like chocolate bars, candy and nuts, etc.
Also, a call from the Safety Officer on duty might need to be dealt with, a call to family, repair a broken gate or oar, tend to blisters and sore bottoms, maybe a wash of some of the clothes that have been used for days on end, even a hair wash is occasionally possible and appreciated. Cleaning the hull also becomes essential now they have been at sea for a while, which involves removing barnacles and other growth with a scraper and yes, the rowers do jump into the water but always tied onto the boat and always carrying out a shark watch first - just in case.
Amidst these practical responsibilities, one of the favourite times the crews will cherish during the crossing will be enjoying the sunsets, the sunrises and the breath-taking night skies with the clearest stars. Wildlife sightings are also one of the things that make the most incredible memories, with teams reporting having seen dolphins, whales, Mahi Mahis and turtles to name a few - and of course the number one creature to visit our teams, flying fish! Whether its day or night these fast little fish jump out of the ocean and land on board, often hitting the rowers in the head, or slapping them around the face.
Follow the crews on the App at YB Races - Worlds Toughest Row Atlantic 2023 or on-line at https://www.worldstoughestrow.com/