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OCEAN ROWING BOATS AND LIFE AT SEA

MILES BEYOND YOUR COMFORT ZONE 

Rowing across an ocean will be a true test of mental and physical fortitude. You will face a confined cabin space, limited food choices, and a brutal schedule of rowing and resting, typically consisting of 2 hours on the oars, followed by 2 hours of cleaning, eating and sleeping. You will experience unusual sleeping and bathroom arrangements. On the upside, life will be simple and the worries of daily life will slowly dissipate as you slip into the routine. 

OCEAN ROWING BOATS

Phillip Morrison designed a boat ideally suited for rowing across oceans in 1995 and whilst it remains essentially the same, over time it has been modernised. The original design was spacious enough to shelter two people and hold several months of provisions, in addition to being lightweight, self-righting and shaped to move easily through turbulent waters. Crew accommodation is provided in an aft cabin six feet in length and about three feet high.  The boat is composed of 14 independently sealed compartments which prevents the entire boat from filling if it is holed. This well-designed boat has become the most common format used in ocean rowing.  Ocean rowing boats can be purchased or a growing second-hand market offers a variety of Philip-Morrison-designed boats for sale. *Ocean rowing boats are provided for the NOMAN Med. Races.

 

SEA WORTHINESS

Seaworthiness classifies whether a ship has passed the required tests and safety checks to be able to sail without any mishaps. It is not determined by the size of the ship or boat, and most modern ocean rowing boats are completely sealed, with decked-over hulls. A properly shaped, ballasted, and sealed boat cannot sink or remain inverted unless its waterproof integrity is compromised, or the ballast shifts.

FAQs>>

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BATHROOM

The bathroom on ocean rowing boats is not an ensuite... Having a shower is undertaken on deck with a water bottle. The toilet consists of a bucket and chuck-it arrangement.

FOOD AND DRINKING WATER

The most important thing about a nutrition plan for an ocean row is that there is a lot of food! Rowers generally burn more calories than they can consume so minimizing this deficit is important. The majority of food on board is freeze dried meals. The meals are lightweight, easy to store, packed with calories and simple to prepare with just the addition of boiling water required. Meals are supplemented with snack packs filled with treats such as chocolate bars, dried fruit and nuts and beef jerky.

PACKING THE BOAT

There are two main things to consider when packing; accessibility and weight distribution.  Heavy materials should be packed low in the boat and away from the bow and stern.  Some areas of the boat are much easier to access than other areas.  Think about your needs and pack accordingly.  Draw a map of the boat’s compartments and list where all the items are stored.  Otherwise you will forget where things are, and full-scale searches are not fun in bucking rowboats.  Keep an inventory of stores.

READY FOR THE CHALLENGE!

In 2013 NOMAN introduced the first ever ocean rowing races across the Mediterranean with the inauguration of the Barcelona - Ibiza race. You can sign up to the 2023 edition of the Barcelona – Ibiza ocean rowing races here: REGISTER

PREPARING TO ROW AN OCEAN>>

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