The Night of November 25-26, 2023

A Peaceful Night

Tonight, we are sailing under almost a full moon. The brightness provided by the moon is truly impressive. No additional light is needed. Everything is clear and visible—truly magical.

Peter had agreed to spend the night in the salon, ready to assist Anna if needed. Fortunately, this wasn’t necessary, and Anna smoothly completed her night watch.

When I started my night watch, I saw Nicolas sleeping on the aft deck. Apparently, he found it more comfortable than his cabin, which tends to sway more due to its location. Or maybe he was just too lazy to go to bed—who can blame him?

The night was mostly calm and uneventful. Another boat, also participating in the ARC, had taken our course and followed us steadily at a distance of about a mile. It was easily visible on AIS and by its light. I kept an eye on it to ensure we were safe.

Heading West: Our First Week at Sea

A whole week of our adventure is already behind us. So far, we have covered almost 1,000 miles. We have settled well into life on board, and a routine has developed. Although we don’t view the ARC participation as a race, we are pleased to hold 5th place in our category. It’s human nature to enjoy comparing ourselves to others.

We had enough reason to celebrate the first leg with freshly baked spelt bread for lunch, a large batch of Anna’s homemade Christmas cookies in the afternoon, and a perfect steak with baked potatoes and salad made by Nicolas in the evening (better than at our favorite steakhouse back home). We ended the evening with a home cinema event on the aft deck: “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”

The sea seemed to enjoy our little deck party as well. A group of dolphins accompanied us again, putting on a delightful show.

Sailing-wise, the day was rather uneventful. We sailed at a good pace, maintaining a decent speed between 5 and 7 knots. We barely needed to adjust the sails, just a bit of trimming here and there. The blue Wingaker accompanied us all day as we headed toward St. Lucia. We should be entering the trade winds soon.

We are having a great time together, laughing, playing, and enjoying our family time on board. But we also tackle serious topics. A conversation with the kids about their fears brought up interesting thoughts. Both expressed fears of something terrible happening on the Atlantic and us sinking. Confronting the idea of death and respecting natural forces feels different here, far from solid ground, compared to everyday life. It shows how priorities and what truly matters in life gain new perspectives.

Our highlights of the week

• Approximately 1,000 nautical miles covered
• Average speed: 6-7 knots
• 5th place in our category
• Two impressive dolphin shows
• Two caught Mahi Mahi
• Home cinema experience on the aft deck
• Endless Christmas cookies
• Mention in the press: online yacht magazine

Challenges of the Week

• Avoiding a nighttime collision with a neighboring boat
• An especially eventful night with numerous challenges, waking the captain 8 times: from lightning to AIS failures

Lessons of the Week

• Our family crew harmonizes perfectly