Atlantic Rowing Race: Blog 13

Mel's blog

I have just booked my flight back out to La Gomera.  Making the decision to go back has been one of the toughest of my life.  My Dad passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly on 12th December and I flew straight home to be with my family.  When I left La Gomera I really didn’t know whether I would be coming back.  Annie and I had a very honest and open chat before I left, Annie was extremely understanding and said she would support me whatever I decided, she never once put any pressure on me to continue.  However, although it’s very hard to leave my family at this time, we have all decided that Dad would have wanted me to continue with the race.  He was very proud of the fact that I want to row an ocean, I’m very much my father’s daughter, the aspects of my personality which mean I want to take on such an enormous challenge I’ve mostly inherited from him, so he wouldn’t have wanted my dream to come to nothing.  A few weeks ago he said to me that he thought Annie and I were capable of beating many of the boys and that he fully expected to see us finish in the top half of the fleet; I said that was an extremely tall order and perhaps he’d like to lower his expectations!  Now knowing the competition I think it’s an even harder task; but I did say we’d give it our very best shot, so Annie and I have decided to dedicate our row to my Dad, Mike King, and we’re aiming to beat as many boys as possible in his name!

Mel x PS  I would like to thank of all you who have sent messages of condolence and support to my family and me, it means so much to us to know there are so many people thinking of us.