Pork scratchings and poetry: HMS Oardacious crew resort to creative tactics as progress slows

The crew of HMS Oardacious have been writing poetry and playing practical jokes as progress on the ocean race has slowed down.

HMS Oardacious, the Royal Navy's Official Ocean Rowing team, are currently taking part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the crew posted a video along with a message that said when "facing forwards, you can see how slow the progress appears to be".

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"But looking backwards you can see that making this progress is tough, it's challenging," the post said.

"With choppy seas, it's hard to get a good stroke of the blade, as the water level is ever changing," the message said.

Led by submariner Cdr Dan Seager, who says he joined the team hoping to learn more about resilience and mental strength, said the team have set up a ‘poetry corner’ to entertain and amuse each other during the long hours of rowing.

 One poem, read by Dan in their latest video, reveals that the crew have been playing practical jokes on each other. 

In rhyme, Dan reveals that one of the snack packs belonging to vegetarian crew member Petty Officer Ian Allan contains a single pork scratching.

"Ian is a vegetarian so, of course, the lads messed with one of his snack packs! Have a listen to this one to find out what they've done!" the crew said in a post on X.

"Conditions have eased but the guys are making good progress, 913 nautical miles rowed!!"