21°56.4’S 107°17.6’W // course 190° // speed 5.3 kn
One step over the side, a short drop before hitting the water feet first. You sink a little deeper than you might expect, but then buoyancy kicks in and the ocean seems to spit you right back out—a green pill it doesn’t want to swallow. Air rushes from your legs to your chest and escapes through the smallest gaps in your hoody. And then you float.
Mondays are for drills, training, and exercises. Today we made it into our survival suits in 4 minutes and 5 seconds—an improvement of 25 seconds. We are getting there.
Once suited up, we took it a step further. For training of the permanent crew and learning for the guest crew, the permanent crew (all but one) stepped overboard in their suits. We demonstrated how to move together in a chain, feet linked into each other’s armpits—like little otters. We showed the help position in a circle, and how to safely step off the ship and clear the hull.
Of course, all of this came with plenty of laughter and a fair bit of comedy.
The day itself was beautiful, though very light in wind. Around lunchtime, we had been under engine for nearly 24 hours, and it felt like we had earned a small break. So: exercise, and a swim stop.
After rinsing and stowing the survival suits, we went in again—this time just for the joy of it.
The blue of the water was so intense that we couldn’t resist jumping in a few more times. With goggles on, Ben and I tried to see the bottom—it felt clear enough. But at 3,750 meters, that is still a very long way down.
Diving under and looking back up at the others in the water showed just how clear it really was. It felt as if they were floating in air, suspended above us—except for the trails of bubbles from their hands.
After the swim, we gave ourselves another break. For an hour, we turned everything off. No engine, no generator—just drifting in the sun.
The silence was complete.
It felt like a deep breath in, and a long, slow exhale. On deck, people almost started whispering. The swell lifted us gently, and we slid down the backs of the waves. Without sails, without machinery, it was pure motion without sound.
Around 15:00–15:30, we started setting sail again. With just 7–8 knots of wind, we managed to make about 3 knots. It was enjoyable while it lasted.
But during the night, the wind faded once more, and we are now back under engine, continuing south.
The weather is beginning to change. The clouds are growing thicker and lower, drifting in just as expected. The outer edges of a low-pressure system far below us may bring some rain later on, and hopefully shift the wind to the south so we can make our way west again.
It has been one of those perfect days at sea.
Andrej said it best:
“You have the perfect life, Jet.”
And today, it really felt that way.
(In the morning we also caught a small Mahi Mahi, Dolphin fish, but we released it, hoping it will create some more offspring before we catch it next time and it has the right size. )
All is well on board,
Jet
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