19’35.3N 023’09.7W course 217′ speed 6,6kn
The last 24 hours have been spend under engine, on an oily ocean with not much movement at all. But then in the corner of our eye we saw something floating! So off we went to investigate. While under engine, a little detour could not hurt! As we got closer we saw a turtle with a very dry shell, and it appeared to be stuck in a piece of netting. So we got closer and closer and as we did the turtle started to try and get away. We hopped we would reach in quick enough before it would drag itself and the net to the deep and we could no longer help it! But then, the turtle got free and made a run for it, before we could help. I asked the crew to take the net out of the water any way, as it may still be danger to other animals in the future or even shipping if it starts sinking and floating just below the surface.. you would not want one of these nets in your propeller.
And as we hauled the net out of the water, we saw small fish dart away, who had been using it as their safe ground. And by the time got the net to the deck, we saw how big the eco system of a floating net can be! Several different sorts of crab had nested on the net and small crabs were crawling all over the deck, little fish needed urgent saving and so we threw the net over board again, shaking it and making sure all the small ones ended up in the water, while the rest of the crew was picking up the ones that were already on our hot deck!
Photo: saving the little once
We later wondered if the Turtle may not just have been having a snack on some of these small crabs etc, an not been stuck.. But then still I feel like it looked very trapped in the middle of the net, and the net doesn’t belong there, floating around, even if it made a little eco system of its own.
With that excitement done, we started to spot more and more turtles, most of them just chilling out in the sunshine, floating on the surface (without nets attached). We ended up spotting 10 turtles! And just before dinner and our Sunday beer, we were joined by three dolphins. The water in front of the Tecla was so clear, no waves breaking, no wind to wrinkle the surface, just these three amazing animals playing in front of the bow. They would speed up and then effortlessly stay in front of the Tecla, you could hardly see their tails work as we were speeding along together with 7 knots. They would synchronize their movement and then all of a sudden go side ways for a few jumps and tricks and then back again in front of the Tecla. We enjoyed their presence for about 20 minutes, when they all of a sudden disappeared and possibly headed back to the bigger group we had seen before.
And then our traditional Sunday beer. We gathered on the aft, with snacks and much happiness and celebrated our first Sunday at sea. Daniel had brought a box of cigars from the Canary Islands, for those interested and the boys (Daniel, Joel and Moritz) then enjoyed their little pleasure before our Sunday roast of chicken, vegetables and baked potatoes. Some of us had dinner outside as the sun was setting and enjoyed the ever changing colors, until they were a deep orange and turquoise that seem to be the prettiest colors and combination in the world! Our first of possibly six Sundays at sea, what a beautiful day!
All is well on board,
Jet
❤️