I’m now in the Coral Sea! This stretch of water is known for being unpredictable, and the weather is relentless, making this crossing tough. Thankfully, the boat’s dagger board is helping me keep a steady navigation line. I can’t row for more than an hour at a time in these conditions, but I can drift! I spent three days working on projects to clean and maintain the supplies on Moderation.
Think threading a needle is hard on land? Try doing it with 15-20 knot winds and a rocking boat! To keep my hat from flopping around in the wind, I sewed some tubing onto the brim to make it a bit sturdier.
You might wonder what the craziest thing I’ve seen at sea is. Was it seeing and hearing a volcano erupt? For a few days, I saw puffs of smoke coming from a volcano on Lata in Polynesia. Then, one morning as I was getting back to rowing, I heard a BOOM and saw smoke pouring out of the top. Pretty wild!
The unique challenges of this expedition have meant ups and downs for my mental health. The initial fast conditions were intimidating, while the slow conditions have been frustrating. But, in true fashion, I remind myself that I can’t change the weather or the ocean—only how I react to it.
I’m now focusing on micro-goals, like making it 1/4 minute west at a time. My coach has helped me develop a mantra for those tough moments: “This will have a happy ending.” It’s helping to make the scary conditions feel less daunting and keeping the positivity flowing!
With newfound confidence, courage, and optimism, I’ve managed to cover 4,000 miles, 3 months, and ¾ of my journey! Only about 1,000 miles to go! Although I’ve lost weight and am tired, I feel more confident and happier now compared to Expedition 1.
If you want to see a recap of my health journey from heart attack to Expedition 1, check out my posts on my personal Instagram page.
