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MAY 2024 - 24 HOURS WITH ROWING ROY

coastalcommanders

Updated: Dec 4, 2024


Three airline pilots, with no rowing experience, head off to sea in an ocean rowing boat for the first time. What could go wrong?



After seeing an ocean rowing boat for the first time at the Rannoch Adventure open day just a few weeks earlier, we decided to take a deep dive into experiencing what life on the ocean would be like. We signed up for a 24-hour taster session with the renowned ocean rowing coach, Duncan Roy.


After initially exploring the idea of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean in 2020, we finally secured a date despite our busy flying schedules. We made the mammoth drive up North to the 'Capital of Ocean Rowing,' Hartlepool Marina, the home of Duncan's very own R45 - Fortitude. Receiving coaching and practising on the same model rowing boat we plan to buy would later help validate our decision.


We met Duncan at the marina, the sun was shining, and the North Sea looked calm. The boat looked primed and ready to go. Duncan gave us a brief on boat safety and etiquette and soon after we loaded her up with our gear and set off into beautiful sunshine and calm waters. Once we left the marina, we received an insightful patter from Duncan on how to manually steer the boat, learn the safest way to move around while remaining 'clipped-on', how to change positions while keeping the boat moving, and how to navigate using the auto-helm. Then, we headed off into the North Sea.





Jon's biggest concern about the epic ocean row has always been seasickness. He has experienced seasickness on several sailing trips with his dad and wants to build up his tolerance before departing from La Gomera. The sea was flat and calm and both Duncan and Jon assumed no seasickness medication would be required. However, less than 90 minutes into the row, Jon turned a strange shade of green.



Despite this, spirits were high, and we anchored up for an obligatory beer to celebrate our first outing on the water together. We also had our first taste of dining at sea with a wide selection of freeze-dried meals provided by Duncan. It goes without saying that Jon did not indulge.


After a quick dinner, we settled into rowing north along the Northumbrian coastline with our proposed rowing pattern of 2 hours on and 1 hour off. This pattern allowed us to have two rowers on deck while the other rested.


We kept the shift pattern throughout the night, taking advantage of the strong current and favourable winds to swiftly pass Sunderland around 22:30. As we neared Newcastle at just past midnight , Duncan emerged from his cabin and instructed us to turn the boat around and retrace our steps as we headed back South.


Jon's seasickness continued into the night. He soon learned how to quickly transition from rowing to vomiting into the bucket without rocking the boat. Eventually, the seasickness medication kicked in and the vomiting stopped, although the nausea lingered.


A few hours into the row, Martin became very quiet and asked Duncan if he had any seasickness medication. Unfortunately, it was too late, and Martin quickly had to adjust to the pattern of rowing and vomiting. Six hours into our very first rowing journey two out of the three-man team were suffering from seasickness. Would Scott be rowing the Atlantic solo with two vomiting teammates in tow? Undeterred, we ploughed on into the night.



Daybreak on the North Sea was simply stunning. Despite feeling nauseous and sleep-deprived, our spirits were high. By 8 am, we were back in Hartlepool. We anchored for some coffee and breakfast, although Martin and Jon didn't have much of an appetite. We then continued our 2-on-1-off pattern, doing some short laps of the bay, practising our navigation, and working on our rowing form.


Once 24 hours were complete, we headed back to the marina to unload and re-trace our mammoth journeys back to the south - 7 hours back to Cornwall for Jon!


Our 24-hour row at sea was a unique blend of exhilaration, learning, and an expected steep challenge. What started as an adventurous curiosity to test ourselves turned into an eye-opening experience about the demands of ocean rowing, from the rigours of managing seasickness to the mental and physical perseverance required through the night.

Despite Jon and Martin grappling with seasickness, we pushed on as a team, each of us gaining newfound respect for the Atlantic row ahead. There’s nothing quite like the quiet yet intense energy of rowing through the dark waters under the stars or the raw beauty of dawn breaking over the North Sea.


Was it worth it? Absolutely. This session brought us closer to our Atlantic goal by revealing exactly what we need to work on—from building seasickness tolerance to strengthening our rowing pattern and endurance. Above all, we left with a clear understanding that this journey will demand total commitment and resilience.


Key takeaways? Know your limits, but don’t let them stop you; be prepared to support each other when challenges hit; and most importantly, always respect the ocean. This experience wasn’t just a test—it was the beginning of a much larger adventure.




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