1200 27°25.88N 22°42.26W
The sea conditions, like a giant washing machine, have locked our “dragon” onto a point of sail too tilted and unstable to do anything but basically follow our daily routines. Malin commented that the sensation of the boat’s motion made her feel drunk and Jen felt it was akin to being in a washing machine.
Our days are timed by our shifts, where we get up 15 minutes before, get into all our wet weather gear and life jackets, and pop out be it rain or sun, day or night. As we listen to the watch handover by the watch leader, we hand over some smiles to the tired crew about to crawl into their dry and cosy places below. And we get some back. The energy among us is one of companionship and care, as we move deeper into the moody Atlantic. One thing we are all learning or re-learning is that sailing is really about being present in the moment and dealing with change as it comes along.
Our routines haven’t kept us from observing the surrounding environment with wide eyes though. From the bright stars that spark through the dark clouds in the evenings – and are making the delight of those of have apps that allow to track their stories – to the trail of phosphorescence left in our wake. Shearwater seabirds that appear out of nowhere, gliding through the wave crests. A massive pod of Atlantic spotted dolphins coming up at sunset and providing us with a few minutes of fun and harmony. Rainbows coming from all sorts of angles as clouds packed with rain hover the horizon and around us. And a plastic bottle floating every now and then, reminding us of human presence as we move further and further from civilisation.
– eXXpedition crew, November 18th and November 19th, 2014
