Adventurer’s tribute to mum
R20 Ocean Rowing Boat – christened ‘Jan’ in tribute to her mum – for the task ahead.
A dozen boats are taking part in this year’s event, with just four solo participants. Others are competing in fours and pairs.
Elaine, who aims to become the first female to row the Atlantic single-handed in more than a decade, said: “The first priority on arrival was getting the boat and all the equipment ready for race day.”
It will be the culmination of a year’s fundraising and training for the challenge of a lifetime.
“The boat and my kit have been subjected to a strict scrutineering process. Everything had to be laid out to ensure nothing was overlooked and it all met the right specification,” she explained.
“I didn’t anticipate any issues as there had been no technical problems with my training and I managed to tick the final boxes on the list of equipment two days before the deadline.
“Before launching the boat I had to apply a special yacht polish and plumb in my water maker, which was a full day’s job.
“I wanted to get out on the water as quickly as possible to sample the conditions and the temperatures. But I’ve not been venturing too far offshore because the current will suck you away and you’ll be off before the starting gun goes!
“I’ve had no nerves so far, I’m fine. I was working up to Wednesday last week in my home improvements business. If I don’t work I don’t get paid!
“Training has been full on for the last 11 months and, of course, I have been securing sponsors. Trying to get the funding together has been more stressful than the training.
“I am still looking for additional sponsors because I have to get the funds together to bring the boat back to the UK from Antigua.
“It’s really hard for solo rowers to get to the start line. But everything seems to be in place and I’m the sort of person who is used to doing things for myself.
“It’s great to know friends and sponsors like the Moncreiffe Care Home will be supporting me back home and following my progress on the Talisker Atlantic Challenge website tracker.
“I have a communications satellite phone but I will be out of touch on the boat and will be focused on the job at hand. I don’t have family coming across to see me off because I felt that would be a distraction.
“And, of course, I am welcoming support for Alzheimer Scotland on my Just Giving page in memory of my mum, who was diagnosed in her mid-fifties when we lived in Enochdhu and she attended a Church of Scotland day centre in Pitlochry.”
Elaine will be spending Christmas alone, 11 days into a voyage of up to 70 days, but she has permitted herself some treats.
She explained: “I have packed away some Christmas cake and I will have a dram to mark the occasion. There is a bottle of Talisker going on the boat!”