A bit of an earlier update today because, as you can see from the picture, I’m currently filling time waiting for my clothes to dry. The colour of the water afterwards was not a pleasant sight!

Today started off as another point-and-go day. The lack of wind or waves meant I could go pretty much any way I wanted. Unfortunately, that also means that I’ve had to work for every bit of progress I make. I think I’ve been spoiled by the recent bout of 40-50 mile days, and anything less is a little disappointing.

Despite the rowing going well, I’ve only made about 25 miles since around 9 o’clock last night, meaning I’m going to barely scrape over 30 miles for the 24-hour period. It’s a bit of a weird one, because I can’t quite decide how I should feel about it: on the one hand it’s been a day of good comfy rowing with nothing causing problems; on the other, I’d have liked to have gone further. Some people are never happy!

During a phone call to a very good friend of mine last night, it was pointed out fairly bluntly to me that my conversation was becoming, well, rather dull. Given that the big dilemma I’d had that day, and which I proceeded to discuss at length, was that I had equal numbers of Twix, Snickers and Mars bars, but much preferred Twixes to the other two, so had to really force myself to have just the one Twix a day, I’m inclined to agree.

It’s not that ocean rowing isn’t exciting or eventful; it is. Everything’s just spread out over a fairly prolonged period, so 99% of events are incredibly mundane. It wouldn’t be my first suggestion for live coverage on Grandstand (although maybe highlights would be good?).

I doubt we’ll be seeing “Ocean Rowing: The Movie” anytime soon. However, if someone did feel so inclined, may I suggest Tom Cruise in the lead role, which obviously dictates the plot right away: highly talented but young and reckless ocean rower with a father with an unfairly tarnished reputation sets out and, after falling in love and suffering the loss of a friend, he becomes sensible and rows around the world before tea-time. Actually, that sounds like a great film!

You’ll be relieved to hear that I expect my clothes are nearly dry now, so I really should return to rowing. The excitement must continue!