“Hard yakka” for Michelle
“Well, it’s been all hard yakka for little reward at the moment. Every single element is against me. I’m in the middle of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, an area renowned for dumping a lot of rainfall and opposing currents and wind. When you get a wind against the current it makes the sea state really sharp aggressive and choppy, it’s been so hard to row in. It’s like a washing machine, everything is against each other.
The rain comes down so hard and because of the wind I can’t see 50 metres in front of me, then the wind howls and then proceeds to take my oars off me.
My salt crusted skin rubs against my long sleeve top that I need to wear all day. It’s so uncomfortable. To top it off I have a deadline. I’ve got 2 days to get south fast. It’s absolutely critical to get south fast, otherwise I’ll be going around in circles for about 10-12 days.
I’ve been rowing hard, 10 hours a day, trying to hold 180 degrees, yet I still keep getting pushed up to 140 degrees. It’s really disheartening when you work so hard and you’re only getting 7 miles. Cooking meals and eating becomes a chore. I wish there was a pill you could pop and, voilà, your food is there.
Today, I happened to look up and oh my goodness, there was a big 193-meter cargo ship right there in front of me.
I jumped on the radio, turns out they saw me first and they indicated they had already diverted their course. I proceeded to tell them my story, how I’d left Mexico, an ocean rowing vessel, headed to Sydney. But he wasn’t up for a chat. So, I tried to strike up a conversation asking about the weather.
Apart from being in a crappy neighbourhood right now, all else is good on board. Health wise I’m doing great. I did sprain my wrist the other day as I slipped over on my boat. That night, I had some of my homeopathic cortisone and some deep tissue massage. Next day, all was good, I was ready to jump on the oars again so I could get into a better neighbourhood… apparently that’s where my life changes, when I’m in the South Pacific.”
Track Michelle here : https://yb.tl/greatpacificrow22
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The Quays Marina LTD Southern Seas Marine Dunbier Trailers Fibre Marine Boat Repairs Simrad Yachting Survitec Group Ltd. Deep Cycle Systems Chief Nutrition Speedo Sharkskin Tiller and Kites CAMPERS PANTRY Pty Ltd Crewsaver Australia One Party Silva Method Australia
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