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|THE JOURNEY||THE ROWERS||THE BOAT|
LOG 1: 17 May
LOG 2: 22 May
LOG 3: 5 June
LOG 4: 26 June
LOG 5: 10 July
LOG 6: 25 July
LOG 7: 16 August
LOG 8: 18 September
Log 3: Tuesday 05 June
After nearly a month at sea Tim Welford and Dom Mee have started to adjust to the rigours of ocean rowing.
Tim chuckles when asked a question about whether Dom has any irritating habits. The two have known each other for 14 years but after spending 30 days in each other's company, even tiny things can begin to niggle.
"There's load of little things - but they are not really annoying, they are funny. He keeps saying 'Do ya know what I mean?' at the end of every sentence - and I don't know what he means - so we have a laugh about that."
They have both managed to adapt to their daily routine of alternate shifts of three hours rowing and three hours resting.
"We're both very confident now, our hands have hardened up, our bodies have taken to sea water very well and we've got no rashes or anything that is worrying us. All the aches and pains died off in the first few weeks of rowing."
"We've also been doing a lot of fixing things on board. Dom broke one of the footboards this morning because he was rowing so hard - so we fixed that. We made little covers to stop water getting into the cabin - we are starting to get very used to life on board and the swaying of the boat doesn't bother us anymore."
Tim and Dom still have a long way to go - and the early storms put them behind schedule.
"We've had six big storms now, and some mountainous seas and we've taken some big hits to the boat. But the boat is in great shape, she's a very strong and sturdy little boat and is looking after us well.
"This first part of the trip has still been a lot slower than we envisaged but we still believe we are looking at round the 120 day mark for reaching America. Once we get a bit of wind behind us we will be putting in 60 to 70 mile days we hope and then we can start making up for all the days we have lost in the first slow stage getting away from Japan."
"The past few days the winds have come round to the west and the south west, which is where we want them. We've started making our miles up and have crossed the 155 degree line east which is encouraging."
A couple of weeks ago Tim nearly had a run-in with a shark, but luckily he's had no close encounters since.
"When you are in the water and they are close, you do get a bit pensive," he says.
"We've got a small shoal of fish now that are definitely part of the boat's crew. They are always under the boat and whenever I stick my head over the side I can see them and we are starting to recognise them now. We've also got an albatross that comes every day around evening time - we'll throw a few biscuits to him and he'll just paddle up to the boat and eat the biscuits - so he's a regular visitor for us.
Although they are far away, their satellite communications equipment means they can talk at least once a week to their families.
"I spoke to Clare my wife yesterday morning," says Tim. "It's nice to hear a friendly voice on the end of a phone - but it also makes you realise how much you miss them when you are out here."
BBC News Online will continue to keep in regular contact with Tim and Dom as they cross the Pacific.
Q: Adam Melia from England asks what's the first thing each of you'll do when you reach America?
A: I don't know if I can tell you the first thing I'll do...(LOL) but a couple of cold beers would be nice and fresh bread and fresh milk. But, I think the biggest thing we want to do is give our wives a big hug because we are missing them very much.
Q: Ronald Hudson asks what's the most annoying thing about your mate or would you rather answer that when you see America?
Q: Xeno Muller, Single Scull Olympic Gold and Silver Medal Winner, wishes you "smooth waters".
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