Dolphins and Oily Waters

25°41.3’S | 075°23.4’W | Course: 029° | Speed: 7 knots

Today the ocean looked like a calm, flat, oily mirror — moving gently and soulfully beneath our hull. We glided across it effortlessly, though without any help from the wind. When a group of dolphins appeared, the water was so clear you could see every stripe and shimmer. In the photos, they almost seem to float in mid-air — the sea so invisible it’s like they’re suspended between worlds.

It wasn’t just dolphins today — we also spotted two small sharks and a few petrels circling nearby. But what we saw most of were Portuguese Man o’ War, those stunning but dangerous jellyfish with a sting you definitely want to avoid. That, along with a dip in water temperature to 15°C, meant a swim stop was not on today’s agenda.

Still, it felt like the first proper sunny day! Sunscreen was needed — and that felt great. We’re creeping closer to the tropics now, and with that comes the heat. Once we leave the cold Humboldt Current behind, we’ll really notice the shift — at this latitude, that could mean a 9 to 10 degree temperature difference!

We also ran a man-overboard drill today, retrieving an orange buoy. The drill went smoothly, though to be fair, the conditions were about as ideal as they get.

At midnight, we set sail. It’s hard to say whether the sails will make a difference during this watch, but with a little luck, the next one will be engine-free. We’re hoping to sail a starboard tack north-northeast, gybing sometime tomorrow to start making more west. Fingers crossed for enough wind to get us going at a decent pace.

Tomorrow I’ll tell you all about the dessert that stole the show today: BanTof — banana and toffee cream cake. Yes, it was as amazing as it sounds!

All is well on board,

Jet