JOIN US HERE LIVE ON OUR PACIFIC OCEAN EXPEDITION
We are rowing the Pacific Ocean from Monterey, California to Nawiliwili Harbor, Kauai Hawaii – a 4500 km/2800 miles/2433 Nautical Miles unsupported and non-stop rowing expedition to raise awareness for drinking water scarcity and its existential value for all life. We call this mission #AQUAWARENESS and as part of this we will be living on 6 liters of water pp per day during this expedition. We’re able to do with less & (again) appreciate the value of water.
So can you! Why not join us? Be aware, and consume a little less.
Come in action and support our mission on sustainable water usage, reduce your water consumption – SEE HOW
Support us ‘en route’ or donate for water education via our ‘DONATE’ button.
Every drop counts because we have no alternative to this precious resource.
Bela Evers, Wilco van Rooijen, Ruurd Dasselaar
GROHE Team Ocean
LIFE IS WATER IS LIFE!
FOR EXPEDITION UPDATES & MEDIA | PRESS INQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT
GROHE TEAM OCEAN | BARTEL SCHEERS @ +31652331008 or BSCHEERS@GMAIL.COM
CREW ROOM
Calm waters heading W 270º
Day 8: Position 32º51.00 N 126º11.46 Calm waters heading W 270º After 8 days and 365 NM (676 km) of rowing in strong winds and
Birthday Celebration and an unresponsive rudder
The Team is sailing along nicely, and with little wind is well on course and schedule. It seems that they have the worst part behind
Rough Winds and High Seas
𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟱: 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟰º 𝟯𝟭.𝟮𝟰 𝗡, 𝟭𝟮𝟯º 𝟰𝟴.𝟲𝟵 𝗪 – 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝟱𝟭º 𝗪 – 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗡𝗠 / 𝟯𝟳𝟬 𝗞𝗠 – 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 Now
Hawaii here we come
May 30, 2025 06.00 AM Pacific Time | 15.00 PM CET. After 2 years of preparations and intensive training GROHE Team Ocean has left
ZERO HOUR : DEPARTURE @ FIRST LIGHT
Today, Friday, May 30, is zero hour. After a 12-day weather delay, we finally leave Monterey Bay Marina and head out to the ocean, west
Cheers to our Team Ocean Ground Team
While the rowers are waiting to get a clear weather window to depart, let’s take a moment to introduce the amazing team behind the scenes…
DAILY LOG
LOG: 06.00 AM PT: Morning.. Wind turns slowly to NW and increasing. Heading SW to catch some speed. Sea state is slow. rowing is like dragging through a thick yoghurt. Today we'll crush the 500 NM marker. Promised Ruurd he could do some fishing at this mark. All well. Some minor issues like blisters, soar backs and muscles. Spirits high thanks to 40-some dolphins playing and jumping in our sights. Radio interview later today with Dutch NPO5 at 20.00 CET.
LOG: 06.00 AM PT: Morning.. Wind turns slowly to NW and increasing. Heading SW to catch some speed. Sea state is slow. rowing is like dragging throuh a thick yoghurt.
LOG: 06.00 AM PT: Morning.. Wind turned mostly N for the day. We expect it to turn more NW for the coming night. Calm waters and time to relax a bit.
LOG: 06.00 AM PT: Morning.. Wind turned mostly N for the day. We expect it to turn more NW for the coming night. Calm waters and time to relax a bit.
LOG: 06.00 AM PT: Morning.. Wind turned mostly N for the day. We expect it to turn more NW for the coming night. Calm waters and time to relax a bit. Celebrating Ruurd's birthday.
LOG: 06.00 AM PT: Morning.. Very severe winds and waves. Autopilot struggled to keep up. Almost lost control, when rudder stopped responding due to a line
LOG: 06.00 AM PT: Morning.. Wind is slightly decreasing but still good for a bubbly ride. Some serious winds W of us, so turning S to 210/215º to remain speed and avoid the strong winds.
LOG: 06.00 AM PT: Morning.. Calmer waters and more favourable wind finally. Making good progress. Heading W 270º to make some mileage. So far so good.
LOG: 06.00 AM PT: Morning.. Wind severe with high waves >10 meters short <10 seconds. Heading more S 270º to avoid beam waves and surfing the waves. Broke and lost the daggerboard. Installed the reserve. Most of the night on para anchor. Weather to severe to be outside or steer the boat. Quite exciting and impressive to say the least.
LOG: 06.00 AM PT: Morning.. Wind is severe and tough with high waves short <10 seconds. Heading more SSW 205º-230º to increase speed. So far so good. Slightly below planned average.We knew this was coming for the first days.
LOG: 06.00 AM PT: Morning.. Wind is severe and tough with high waves short <10 seconds. Heading more SSW 205º-230º to increase speed. So far so good. Slightly below planned average.We knew this was coming for the first days.
LOG: 02.00 AM PST: Night.. Window fully open. Departure is at first light | 04.30AM PT | 13.30 PM CET | We're leaving Monterey Bay at first light heading west for Kaua'i Hawaii.
LOG: 00.00 AM PST: Midnight.. Window is open. Departure is imminent. We're on stand by receiving our final briefings and testing our comms setup with our shore team.
LOG: 00.00 AM PST: Midnight.. Although still closed there is a slight chance for a window within the next 48 hrs. Fingers crossed. We're ready.
LOG: 00.00 AM PST: Midnight.. Window for departure still closed. The bad weather system that blocked our departure seems to have arrived. Wind and gusts are increasing. We need to wait till this system passes and hopefully a window will open next. Spending much of the day training on shore.
LOG: 00.00 AM PST: Midnight.. Window for departure still closed. The bad weather system that blocked our departure seems to have arrived. Wind and gusts are increasing. We need to wait till this system passes and hopefully a window will open next. Spending much of the day training on shore.
LOG: 00.00 AM PST: Midnight.. Window for departure closed. Not sure when next window opens. Wind and gusts too strong to depart.
LOG: 00.00 AM PST: Midnight. Weather deteriorated rapidly off coast during the day with gusts >30 kts. Window for departure closed. Not sure when next window opens.
LOG: 00.00 AM PST: Midnight. Weather improvements are accelerating consistently. Window for departure is opening. We're on stand by for departure3
LOG: 00.00 AM PST: Midnight. Weather improvements are accelerating consistently. Window for departure is opening. We're on stand by for departure as from Friday. Did some calibrating electrical equipment today and enjoyed the warm hospitality of the friendly people of Monterey.
LOG: 00.00 AM PST: Midnight. Conditions and sea-state off coast consistently improving. Winds are slowing and turning more West. Window in sight. Last sea trials today went well. We're getting ready for departure.
LOG: 09.00 AM PST: Morning Daylight. Conditions and seastate off coast are slowly but consistently improving. Winds are slowing and turning more West. Possible window opening in a few days as from Friday. Meanwhile we keep preparing and follow up on some sponsor requests. Spirits high.
LOG: 00.00 AM PST: Midnight. Conditions and seastate off coast are slowly improving. Winds are turning more West. Possible window opening in a few days. Meanwhile we're reorganising our supplies and inventory while getting used to the Pacific sun and enjoying the warmth and hospitality of our Monterey hosts.
LOG: 09.00 AM PST: Not much improvements over night and no sign for better forecasts for the day. We'll spend the day working on our extensive small improvements list and fixing some technical and software issues. Also planned some interview requests later this week.
LOG: No improvements in weather conditions. Still unfavourable to head for the ocean. Rowing the Bay for most of the day. Spirits are high, we adjust and wait.
LOG: Due to severe weather conditions our departure is delayed for a few days.