30’13.5S 034’22.9W course 190′ speed 5,5kn , 23-12-2023
Although we were able to set sail at noon, and sail very beautifully with 4 knots for an hour or so.. the wind decreased quickly and we were left doing 2 knots for most of my 12 till 18 watch… The swell was still fairly big and so at the end of the watch we were rocked a lot and the mainsail and mizzen just could not stay filled.. And so we took them down again at 18:00h.
The day had been very hot, hardly any shade and a burning hot deck. The temperature rose to 35degrees in the shade at some point. So as the sails were coming down, we figured it was time for a cool down! SWIM STOP!
We had another hour before sun down and so everybody was out on deck within 10 minutes after letting the sails down, in their swimming gear and off we went! What I did not expect was that the water had cooled down so much over the past few days. Our thermometer’s battery was empty and so we have not checked regularly for a few days.. So when I jumped in and the water was about 22 degrees, I got the shock of my life! COLD!!!! But also soooo refreshing!
We swam for an hour, then watched the sun go down in total silence. All on deck were just in awe. Many sighs were heard around us and many pictures were taken of “yet another sunset”. We were all sunk away in our own thoughts for just a little bit, in our own personal bubble, without being bothered by another 13 persons at close proximity.
As we were still swimming, Russell went to get the life ring that was drifting off (attached to a line to the ship), and as he got to the ring he floated around in it for a while.. and thats when I realized that was probably the furthest he had been away from any of us for the last month. He drifted at 20 meters distance and we were all playing around the ship. That realization was what I was thinking off when the sun was going down. We have been here for a month on this day, we have lived together for 30 days and we have grown very used to one another. There are no big struggles, no arguments, just very easy and comfortable living. We have comfortable silences for hours, or conversations about very personal subjects for hours. And this little bundle of people on board is finding living together quite easy. And having fun together, even easier.
This night the wind has completely gone. The ocean is like a mirror. And in that mirror bioluminescent algae are lighting up our bow like a natural disco! Stunning!
All is well on board, jet
Curious pilot whales
32’19.7S 034’41.3W course 189′ speed 5,7kn, 24-12-2023
Wildlife has not been as abundant as it was last year. We are about 1 month later in the season and further out of the coast, which could both be of influence. The last few days we have had a great sheerwater around and some beautiful white chinned petrels, but not a lot more. Until this afternoon! As we were setting sail Riva called out, whales! Or Dolphins, or SOMETHING! and so all eyes we on the water instead of on the sails. And there they were, a small pod of about 10 pilot whales coming our way. We were still under engine with just forestaysail and jib set when they started circling the ship and diving underneath the Tecla. I turned off the engine and we enjoyed the squeaky sounds the whales were making! There was a fully grown pilot whale with a small one swimming close to it. They would surf a wave behind us, pick up speed and slow down just on our aft. Some of them would turn their belly up and sort of look at us as we were looking at them. We enjoyed their company for about 20 to 30 minutes and then they left. It really was quite amazing.
After they left we set the rest of the sails, hoping they would come back if we picked up speed, but they were so fast, they were long gone by the time we were done. With all sails up we were doing 4,5 knots quite easily. And at the end of my watch, without noticing we had picked up quite some speed and were doing a very comfortable 7 knots on a very light breeze.
The weather has been everything between complete dead calm no wind, drizzle, grey and bright blue skies with sunshine and a small breeze. As the sun rose this morning, the ocean was like an oily surface, with hardly a ripple of wind.. The temperature has gone down though and I believe all of us are relishing that. Sleep comes easier and its sort of nice to wear long sleeves and pants again. For now.
All is well on board, Jet
