ROLLERCOASTER
Last 1,5 month have been one big rollercoaster. Everyone says that appearing at the start of the toughest race is the hardest part. Well that is true! It all started with an idea, then comes the plan, an official registration, and a beauty of a boat; our Queen.
With this boat our idea has become something we can actually touch, the entire year is filled in with events, courses and training. It is now taking a huge violation of our private life, social life (sorry friends, husbands, boyfriends, moms and dads) and we have a second fulltime job. Everyone has their own obstacles, financial, as a business owner, or family that needs attention. It’s not easy to divide our attention. And to be able to do all these things we have a few building blocks that form our foundation: trust in each other, in the team and the support from our families and loved ones. The truth is that this has all led to some changes in the team. Each with it’s own reason, a reason that deserves respect and appreciation.
Marieke made the decision that there was no Atlantic row for her in 2020.
Marieke’s words are: Sometimes making the right decision is the hardest one. During preparations back home and out there on the Atlantic Ocean you will need a team that's on the same page. I am on a different page. And because of not being able to find my place in this team, I made the decision to leave the Dutchesses.
Marieke's place has been filled in by Melanie. Melanie has been part of our team before and has always supported us. This came at the right time for Melanie right now, unlike 1 years ago, she is more ready for it than ever!
Our team is complete again, in the same setup as it all has started!
Unfortunately shortly after that Eva admits that there were too many reasons for not continuing with her dream to row the Atlantic. Lots of uncertainties and doubts were in the way of going 100% for it. Let’s face it: it’s not a small thing to do. Eva will continue to support us, and we have so much respect for the way she handles this and keeps on giving her positive energy we will so dearly miss in our team.
We definitely wanted to have a 4th female rower in our team, and Renate who has been following us on the sideline stepped in. Renate is a power woman, mountaineer and fanatic gig/lifeboat rower who’ll bring a “whatever, I’ve seen worse” attitude to the team that empowers all of us.
I think writing this is the most difficult thing I had to do in the great project so far. Believe me, I’m writing this with a stomach ache. The change in the team seemed like something unsolvable and made us feel so low. But it is exactly this what they are talking about: the hardest part is to get to the start. And the problems you’ll encounter will only make you stronger and more fierce in wanting to reach that finish line in Antiqua. And we have more faith in our team than before because all four of us know what it takes to reach the start line: a lot of stomach ache, trust and determination.
A lot of love,
Melissa