Today marks three weeks into the voyage. All in all, I can’t really complain. A blistering first week was followed by a frustrating second, and this last week has been eventful! But I’ve been moving broadly in the right direction at a reasonable pace. Well, I’m certainly closer to Antigua than when I started!

I’ve had a fairly good day today. The weather’s dropped quite a bit, so rowing feels worthwhile, yet the winds are still helping you on your way a bit and the waves are splashing you now and again to remind you they’re still there. So, having covered about 50 nautical miles in the last 24 hours, I decided to treat myself.

Now, great care was taken. I didn’t want a pesky rogue wave to come along and ruin my day, as they seem to enjoy doing so much. I couldn’t risk the kettle - it hasn’t been used much and may have bits on it. I got everything ready. The pan was cleaned and dried, as was the mug and spoon. Just the right amount of water was heated up, but not too much - I’ve learnt that, when drinking from an insulated mug, don’t boil the water completely; it’s incredibly dull waiting for it to cool down to a drinkable temperature! Four spoonfuls of powder went into the mug, and the water went in, all the while pleading with the ocean not to throw a bucket of cold salty water over my fun. My splashproof jacket went on - this was a big step, as that tells your body you’re not going to be rowing soon. Then, for the height of luxury, on went the iPod, played through not one, but two radios, just for the sheer extravagance of it.

For the next 45 minutes, there I sat, relaxed in the starlight with my hot chocolate and digestive biscuits, being serenaded by “Toys in the Attic” by Aerosmith.

Incredibly, for that time, the ocean let me be. I wasn’t jolted around and I wasn’t splashed. After three weeks I think there’s finally been a breakthrough: the Atlantic and I have made friends.

I wonder how long that’ll last?