The miles continue and the latitude drops. And it was a busy day yesterday from a sea life perspective. What we believe to be a masked booby (I’ll post a real photo at some point once I figure out how to get it from the real camera to my computer) came and visited us and circled our boat several times, diving occasionally into the water nearby presumably to catch the flying fish that are continually everywhere nearby. We saw the booby eying our own forlorn deck-stranded flying fish and Conor tried to entice the booby to come land on our treat trolley (like they have on Asian trains!) of a boat, but no dice. At least we got a photo or two!
We also saw a kettle of pelagic birds in the far distance which was unusual because the birds out here so far have all been solitary or at the most in twos. Then underneath the birds, hundreds of dolphins were leaping out of the water at least six feet. They didn’t come nearby and it was a sight for weary eyes.
Last night the wind howled unexpectedly (meaning, not in any forecasts) all night, with a huge chunk of the night spent in 25+ knots continuous and gusts over 30. It started picking up right around sunset and we reefed the jib and still we could feel we were overpowered so we took another reef on the main and thank goodness we did because the wind lasted all night. We screamed along through the complete darkness all night on a double reefed main and maybe two square feet of jib. It was not a night full of sleep for the off watch person.
Conor had two flying fish try to take over the helm in the middle of the night on his watches and he was able to throw them back so they have a shot. I am thankful that didn’t happen during my watches! Probably now that I’ve put it out there the universe will decide that’s an experience it wants me to have tonight. But our deck is littered with other unlucky fishies and when we go on deck today we’ll have to throw them over.
Nearly in single digit latitudes (currently at 11 degrees N) and this afternoon we’ll be halfway distance wise (1410 miles down, and 1410 miles to go) Wow. That’s far traveled, and yet still so far ahead. Nothing has ever tested us like this passage has, and we’ve done a lot of hard things. Nothing to do except keep going, and enjoy the 80 degree weather that is finally here.
So glad that the weather is finally warm for you!! I hope you see many more dolphins on your journey. <3
Loving the updates! Congrats on the halfway milestone!!
Sending you of of love, strength, and helpful winds! We’re all thinking about you!
Loved talking with you today! A toast to your reaching the halfway point, and our wishes for favorable winds and seas.
Cheers to the halfway point! That must feel sooo good. Home stretch! xoxo
Congratulations 🎉🎊 on now being over halfway to your destination!! We love reading your adventures and challenges. You two make an amazing team! We love you!
Yay for the wildlife sightings that sound like bright spots in an otherwise arduous journey so far. Hoping the wind brings you some relief soon!
Halfway! That is wild about all the fish on your deck. My roomate on my first ship somehow never saw the flying fish and was convinced we had made them up as a prank on her :). I hope the second half gets a little less wild for you two.