Skipper's Log for Sea Change Row

By Kat Bruce

This is an ongoing log updated during the GB Row Endurance expedition.

June 26 – 29, 2024: Land's End and Padstow

Yesterday was a huge day for us coming around Land's End. We'd come past the Lizard in the middle of the night, heading towards Land's End, and caught a really good quick tide across that last bay. We arrived about six hours too early to the Land's End peninsula, which gave us the chance to anchor up in a cove that was beautiful, sheltered, and surrounded by amazing rocks, cliffs, caves, and a lighthouse at the end.

We spent six hours hanging out on the boat at sea, making tea and coffee and sitting around on deck to chat. We set off from there at 12:00, knowing we needed to be at the Runnel Stone between 14:00 and 14:30. We drifted for an hour or so at about two knots so we didn't arrive too early, and then rounded it in glorious sunshine along a beautiful coastline. We were hit by a bit of a headwind with chop, waves, and spring tides, making for tricky waters for an hour or so before it died down, followed by 8 or 9 hours of really great tides pushing us up past St Ives.

Our aim was to make for Padstow, about 30 miles past St Ives, to shelter from strong winds coming from the west. Overnight brought consistent crosswinds and headwinds along with big swells from the Atlantic, making steering and staying awake a big challenge. We made it to Padstow around 11:00 at low tide, navigated down the channel into the harbor, and completed a precise parallel parking maneuver in shallow water to wait for the lock to open to enter the marina.

June 24, 2024

Demon Dolphin in Lyme Bay.

June 23, 2024

Dolphins in sight.

June 22, 2024

Rowing through Lyme Bay.

June 20, 2024

Power outage on boat; heading into Bridport.

June 19, 2024: Early Morning Update

We looked at the weather and adjusted our plan to head more inland. We expect wind from the north building to more than 15 knots, along with an opposing tide pushing east. Instead of riding that out, our plan is to anchor up near Selsey Bill to let the worst of the weather and tide pass before heading out towards the Isle of Wight once conditions improve.

June 18, 2024

Madeline and I were rowing on and off together in shorts and t-shirts, passing beautiful scenery off Newhaven, Beachy Head, and the Seven Sisters. Having rowed continuously for over 24 hours, everyone is settling into a routine despite sleep deprivation and minor aches and pains.

We made it from Dungeness past Beachy Head (30 miles) and are heading towards Selsey Bill, another 30 miles away, before aiming to round the south side of the Isle of Wight.

June 17, 2024: Departed Dover

We set off from Dover around 14:00 as planned and are back at sea!