can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Azzurra 19 May




Today is our third day out to sea and it started with a blood red sun rising out of a grey ocean, set against a grey sky at 4. 30 am, soon to disappear into a low lying cloud bank, the sun has now lost the burning intensity that it has in the Tropics, an indication that we making progress towards Europe.
We are now nicely settled into are on ship routine, it always seems to take 2/3 days to get into the rhythm of ship board life, the constant looking for hand holds now become second nature, the motion and heel of the boat is now normal, as is walking around with your back to the wall and bulkheads. We have become one with the boat as she carries us towards the Azores, it’s a special feeling, that has to be experienced to fully understand it, maybe that’s why we love to sail, to feel this “ at one” with boat, nature and the elements.
The winds have continued to be kind to us today and we are making good progress in the right direction, that’s always a good feeling ! We did not see the sun much today and the skies where generally over cast, still the winds are good and we have been clipping along at between 7 and 10 knots..great sailing. Later in the afternoon we put the first reef in the main ( in the pouring rain !) to ease the boats motion. Right now the reef is still in place and the jib is fully out and we are making 8.5 knots in a 14 knot breeze, sailing a close reach… nice !!
So far on this trip we have not seen much sea life, apart from some Portuguese Man Of War jellyfish ( just see its transparent sail floating past), one red billed tropic bird ( my personal favorite ocean bird) a few unknown shearwaters and a storm petrol. But today that changed !! towards dusk we were visited by a small pod of dolphins ( about 6 in number), they were small ( 5-6 ft) dark coloured , with a curved pointed dorsal fins, the light was fading so could not get any more details of body markings. They played around the bow for a while, putting huge smiles on all our faces. Also we had a couple of large fish jump clean out of the water very close to the boat !
Today has been a good day, nice sailing, dry decks, we are on course and wonderful fine food keeps appearing out of the galley ! We dine with a table cloth and place mats…we are doing this trip in great style…Dawn you are amazing. My fingers are crossed that the sea Gods will continue to smile on us.



Previous | Next