Joanna - Joanna?s halfway day

Today Joanna reached a special waypoint. As Bon Jovi would say "we're halfway there!" What an achievement and well done to all the other boats as well. There's no turning back now - see you in the Caribbean!

Onboard we've well and truly lost all sense of time and the days have merged into a new happy routine. We’ve had A LOT of time to contemplate, reflect and stare into the deep blue ocean (while keeping one eye out for rogue flying fish hurtling towards us).

We thought we would share some of our thoughts, highlights, and general experiences from our time on Joanna from the perspective of each of the crew:

Tamira (Denmark, 43)

- With more time on our hands, meals and food become a more significant part of our daily life. Time and consideration is put into every meal which leads to eating well and fantastic food. Living from the land (sea) means lots of fresh fish with a highlight being fresh tuna sushi - incredible.

- As time is often spent sitting down, looking out for hours, time for mind wandering is becoming my new favourite thing to do, and my new well-being barometer. Time is our most valuable resource but in everyday life I often feel I have too little time. Not here! Nevertheless, we still try to fill up our time with all sorts of activities - like morning workouts on the front deck trying to keep our balance while the boat is moving.

Daniel (Denmark, 39)

- Our perception of time and how we live changes while sailing offshore for such long periods. The days blur into one, only separated by the rising and falling of the familiar sun. Crossing the Atlantic is much more about ocean 'living' rather than ocean 'sailing'. Planning and organising activities for everyone are important to keep sane and to maintain some kind of structure.

- It's a privilege to spend such a long time in the deep blue and appreciate its vast power, beauty and diversity. A completely unique experience which you can’t forget.

- it's a weird dynamic that ARC is technically a race yet spread over nearly 3 weeks. You cant be in 'race mode' for all that time and need to fight the mental battle which comes which comes with the extended journey. Sometimes slowing down and relaxing will pay off in the long run and make sure all the crew are happy.

Inés (Denmark, 7)

There’s amazing wildlife with highlights being dolphins and whales. Also a few birds which must be a long way from home - they must be really tired!!

Vincent (Denmark, 4)

Being able to play with Lego for hours upon end. Yay!

The excitement when the fishing reel starts clicking to see what we've caught.

Peter (Denmark, 52)

Having kids onboard means you often get exposed to books you may not normally read. You get to learn about all sorts of things like dinosaurs and pre-historic sea creatures which roamed the Earth before us. It sets your mind wondering about what might be below the surface.

It is very privileged to be able to get a way from job and daily routines for a while - and being 'out of reach' when it comes to phone and emails. It can quickly become a habit.

James (UK, 27)

- Flying fish are definitely suicidal and extremely scary at night as they come hurtling into the cockpit and on to your dinner plate.

- Everyone adapts to the new environment and routine at sea seamlessly. Whether it's the new night watch shift pattern, lack of contact with the outside world, or learning new skills, within a few days it feels natural. It goes to show how adaptable we all are in the face of change and new situations.

- Despite being in a cruising division, if two boats are going in the same direction it's always a race

- No matter how tired you are, watching an ocean sunrise or sunset is truly special. You can never get bored of them.

Clara (Spain, 22)

- It seems like we're not moving or making any progress. There's no fixed reference point to gauge distance - everywhere you look is blue and waves constant. Are we just repeating each day over and over again like in Groundhog Day?

- You find new ways to use things when onboard the boat - everything has a multi-purpose. Take Lego, for example. Although it's for the kids, the 'adults' have stolen it to play Lego charades which has been very entertaining!(10/10 would recommend)

Pauline (Germany, 19)

- Cooking is a completely new and different experience onboard compared to on land. At home it can be boring and tedious but having the ocean views and sea air right out of your window while having to balance waves rocking the boat makes for a exciting experience. Weighing scales don't really work and you can't easily google recipes - things start to get creative.

- Baking and pancakes always wakes the crew up with the smell quickly filling the boat. You can’t escape it.

Having written this, we also reflected that we may have the youngest average crew age (26.5) as well as a 50:50 gender split and a mixture of nationalities. Can anyone top that!? We're all truly grateful for this diversity which has led to interesting conversations, experiences shared, and a boat full of fun. The first half of this passage has been a blast and we’re sure the second half will be just as fun.