21’44.4N 021’27.3W course 223′ speed 6,2
During the night watch we sailed beautifully with a small breeze, just the tiniest breeze and still we were doing 4 knots, comfortably. No shaking of the sails, no gaffs coming over, just a perfect little breeze with a speed that was enough for just a few hours. But when the sun came up, the wind decreased to a point where we were drifting more then we were sailing and the mainsail looked more like sheets hanging to dry then a sail that was working hard.. And so since this morning we have been under engine. We took down that jib and mainsail just before lunch and kept the mizzen en forestaysail up just for support.
We know we will be under engine for a while as the weather report has us trapped by a high pressure area. Which gives us amazing weather, blue blue blue skies, sunshine and oily water! And so what else could we do, but make the most of it and have our first swim stop! We measured the water temp during the night, 23,2 degrees. A little cold for me still 😉
But most of us got excited and the idea of swimming at a depth of 4160 meters depth, was appealing to all! So engine off, drifted until a near stop and then safety nets down, pilot ladder out and a big jump from the jibboom! It looked so amazing that I went in as well, and it was, compared to our last swim stop around the equator in May, fairly fresh! But also amazingly refreshing! We drifted around for about an hour, took Bert (our little bath duck) out for a swim as well and then packed up and left again. Of course the last three in the water were our School at Sea volunteers. In their element, jumping of the jibboom, from the rigging and hunting down plastic from the ocean. Maybe tomorrow will bring another stop, depending on the amount of wind. Maybe we will swim from one side to the other then, having a look at our hull in the meantime.
Speaking of the hull, after our last dock period in June, she does look very clean still! No big barnacles, nothing dragging and slowing us down and no reason to get our tools out and scrape the hull!
Most of the rest of the day was spend enjoying that feeling you have after swimming! Cooled and happy, most of the crew was spread out over the deck reading a book, resting in the shade. We did some small chores that were still on our to do list, getting some anti chafe leathers on, getting a twist out of a line, re-arranging trim lines now that the mainsail is down and just cleaning up the deck.
Our fishing team caught one fish, a mahi mahi, but it was such a small size that we said it would be better to throw it back into the ocean, so it can live a little longer, grow a little bigger, make some off spring and possibly in a few years, we will pass by here again and catch it, fully grown..! Dani took the fish of the hook gently, said his goodbyes to it and off it swam into the deep. We have also spotted our first few flying fish, only single ones flying away from us, but still the start is there. Other wild life we have spotted were some sheerwaters. But the wind was so light, that even they were just sitting around on the ocean.
All is well on board,
Jet
