The Night of November 22-23, 2023

Peter and Anna in Action – Stowing the Wingaker in the Dark

With calm seas, 10 knots of wind, and the Wingaker hoisted, we ventured into the next night. We weren’t alone, though. The ship “Serene” danced around us all night like an elegant ballerina.

At 2 AM, during Anna’s watch, the wind suddenly died. Peter and Nicolas had to be woken up. In the darkness, Anna and Peter stowed the Wingaker. Due to his injury, Nicolas was on standby, connected via headset. Anna, now experienced, handled the task with ease.

We used the motor to keep moving until about 10 AM.

When I took over the watch at 3 AM, I was greeted by a very dark night. The moon was not visible, and only a few stars could be seen. However, on AIS, I could see the ship “Serene” as our constant companion, even though it wasn’t visible to the naked eye.

These nocturnal hours at sea are a reminder of how unpredictable and captivating sailing can be. The silence, the darkness, and the presence of “Serene” made this night a unique experience.

Bright Sunshine and Perfect Sailing Conditions

The day began with bright sunshine, and the wind blew steadily at 10-12 knots. Perfect conditions to hoist the Wingaker again. The weather was simply wonderful for cruising, and after the first few rough days, we could visibly relax today. Nicolas set up the sunshade at the bow to provide us with some shade and protect us from the heat.

The idea of taking a refreshing dip in the sea was tempting. The sea seemed calm enough. But when we stowed the sail, we realized that the swell was still quite strong. We were moving at a speed of 3 knots, and jumping into the water would have been like a “man overboard drill.” So, we decided against it and instead enjoyed the delightful atmosphere on board.

We simply lived in the moment and let ourselves drift. A nap here and there provided relaxation. I even took some time for yoga and meditation, which did wonders for my mood.

My latent headaches and slight nausea, which had accompanied me since the start, were gone. This showed me how important it is to take “me-time” even at sea. Yoga and meditation work wonders, even in the middle of the ocean.

Meanwhile, Nicolas made numerous adjustments to the fishing equipment and sought advice from sailing friends to further optimize it. He set squid lures aimed at catching tuna. The anticipation of a possible catch grew, and we were excited about what the coming days would bring.

It’s wonderful to see how the mood on board improves when we take time for relaxation and joy. These moments make life at sea so special.

Milestone at Sea: The Successful Repair of the Watermaker

One of the central issues on our journey is ensuring we have enough fresh and drinking water on board. Considering that an average household consumes about 120 liters of water per person per day, we face a real challenge on board. Our tank holds only 300 liters, and we are a family of four. In sailing seminars, you learn to manage with just 5 liters of water per person per day, with 2 liters allocated for drinking. This means that showers are practically impossible. Even washing hands under running water is unthinkable. Dishwashing is done with seawater.

In the past, you had to manage long passages with the limited tank capacity and carry needed water in large containers. This is still a reality for many sailors today. However, modern yachts like our catamaran are equipped with a watermaker that converts seawater into drinking water. Our watermaker produces 60 liters of fresh water per hour, which means our tank should be refilled in about 5 hours.

After three days at sea, our tank was already half empty, and a refreshing shower was highly desired by all. So, we started our watermaker. But after two hours, Peter noticed that the tank was still at 50%. Something was wrong. Peter immediately checked and analyzed everything and found that the water wasn’t reaching the tank. It seemed that the hoses had been incorrectly connected during installation.

With improvisation skills and dexterity, Peter managed to temporarily fix the problem. Our reward was finally our first shower on board. It was refreshing and truly delightful. How wonderful that water production could resume. The worst-case scenario would have been a half-full water tank with only 150 liters and 332 liters of extra water in containers for the remaining approximately 17 days for four people. A real worst-case scenario for spoiled city dwellers.

To end this day in style, we decided to do something special—our very own mother-daughter time. Anna suggested watching the movie “Maleficent 2,” a modern take on the Sleeping Beauty story. This film was the perfect choice for the evening and brought us even closer together.

Culinary Delights Day 4: