Technically, this row is classed as a solo row. While it may be true that I’m the only person actually onboard Pacific Pete, you couldn’t be further from the truth if you labelled it a solo effort.
When I first casually dropped into conversation that I wanted to row across the Atlantic by myself, my mum did what she normally did when I suggested a ridiculous idea - and this was probably up there with the best of them - she smiled sweetly and moved on to something more interesting. But, as the months went by, it gradually started to dawn on her that I might actually go through with it!
What do you do? While it may seem attractive to some mothers to have hourly updates of your children’s exact location, in full knowledge that there’s not a lot of mischief they can be getting up to, put another way it may not appear quite so appealing: your youngest son is planning on setting out on a potentially very dangerous three-month challenge that barely 30 people had ever completed before, a far smaller number than those that had attempted it. Resisting all instincts to persuade me not to, probably knowing full well it would have the opposite effect, she set about helping me achieve it. Whether the motivation was to be able to ensure I remembered to take two oars rather than one or not, help was offered and taken willingly - I’d realised this was going to be no easy challenge!
Having finished her previous job, what mum hadn’t realised was that, rather than several months’ relaxation, she had actually taken on the far more demanding job of ocean rowing project manager. The hours were long, the rewards limited, the stress unbearable, and successes few and far between. As anyone who has been involved with an ocean row, the task of getting to the start is mammoth. But, thanks entirely to her help, there I was at 6 o’clock in the morning standing next to a fully-loaded ocean rowing boat ready to be delivered to Gomera. That it had taken about 4 days with virtually no sleep, from both myself and my mum, is not the point - it was ready to go.
That was certainly not the end of the job. Since leaving, the website has been kept diligently maintained, countless emails have been sent out, daily updates have been emailed to me, … I could go on and on. Based on the time emails are being sent, I’m fairly sure I’m getting more sleep than she is.
There’s no doubt in my mind that this row wouldn’t be going anywhere near as well had it not been for my mum’s help. In fact, I doubt there’d even be a row at all. Trying to combine a job, a degree and an ocean row is impossible by yourself. Luckily I had the help and support of a free full-time project manager (plus lots of overtime!), and a pretty special one at that. From 500-mile round-trips to deliver flares, to painting the inside of the cabin, and innumerable things besides, all of it was done willingly and without complaint. It would be impossible to fully quantify the help I have received, but it is a massive amount, plus a little bit more!
So, although this is being called a solo row, it really is anything but. Happy mothers’ day mum. I wouldn’t be here without you.
