It took us a little longer then expected to cross, due to
unexpected wind and current directions. We experienced many different
conditions, sometimes a steady 7-8 knots of speed, choppy waves and big swells,
other times the wind was dead, the water flat. We spent most of the time heeled
at a 40° angle, clinging onto the winches as our legs dangled over the cockpit.
These conditions definitely kept us alert and awake, especially when you were
sound asleep, curled up on the couch in your sleeping bag, and then theres a
sudden tack that throws you across the saloon, I suppose you have to entertain
yourselves somehow during those cold and boring night watches. In fact, the
night watches were some of the most beautiful experieces some of the crew had,
the skies so clear and sharp like a velvet blanket scattered with precious
diamonds, the delicately lit milky way dusted across.
On one morning watch, sat shivering, waiting for the sun to rise to warm us up,
one of the crew commented on how it was odd that we had’nt seen dolphins yet. And
then out of no where, they appeared in the dozen, almost as if they were
listening, knowing the night watchers needing a little lift. They stayed with
us for ages, and came back every day after, diving through the waves and
darting back and forth past the bow. They even made a midnight visit, breaking
the silence of the night by flowing through the glittering planktons, leaving
trails of iluminating green lights behind them.
We were 3rd to arrive at 09:00 Thursday morning, more then happy to get to
land. With the crew looking a little worse for wear and starting to smell
pretty funky, we were greeted by a sleepy-eyed Kieran who took a far from
flattering crew photo before we headed to the showers and cracked open the
breakfast Limoncello
Regards,
Leviathan II
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