The Night of November 26-27, 2023

A Bright Full Moon Night

Last night was very calm on the open sea. Our speed was a steady 7 to 9 knots, and the full moon bathed the night in a wonderful silver light.

We could see two familiar boats on our AIS, each about 10 nautical miles away, traveling parallel to us on a similar route. They accompanied us consistently, giving us a comforting sense of not being alone in the vastness of the ocean, even though they were out of sight. It was a good feeling and a reminder that we are part of a larger sailing community.

Otherwise, everything was quiet and uneventful. The night passed without incident, and the captain didn’t need to be woken, always a good sign of a peaceful watch.

The full moon gave the night a magical atmosphere. It’s always an impressive sight, especially on the open sea.

Sailing Life: Full Moon and the Best Fajitas

Today began a bit subdued. The full moon last night seemed to have affected our sleep, as none of us slept particularly well. But on our boat, there is enough space to retreat and give each other some space when needed.

A pleasant surprise came when our Lagoon friends called us on the radio. Apparently, they had crossed our path. It was great to speak with friends again and exchange information about weather conditions, course, and useful tips. The sailing community is incredibly open and helpful. We also heard from other sailing friends that a kestrel had landed on their boat. Unfortunately, it fell into the water when it tried to fly off and couldn’t be saved.

Today involved some boat cleaning. This is inevitable even on board. It feels almost like home, and everyone has to pitch in. Our energy and water supply allowed us to run two washing machines and a dishwasher. While the inside of the boat was cleaned, a constant layer of salt and Sahara dust accumulated on the outside. It’s not worth washing it off at sea, as it would get dirty again the next day. Maybe a strong shower will come soon to wash away the salt?

Anna treated us to a delicious snack in the afternoon: crepes with cinnamon and sugar, Nutella, or Grandma’s famous blackcurrant jam. In the evening, Peter made his famous fajitas, which we all enjoyed. For me, it was a welcome change not to have to cook and to be pampered instead.

After dinner, we even had a successful fishing catch—a Wahoo bit. Nicolas’ adjustments to our fishing gear seem to be paying off. If this isn’t proof that the full moon theory isn’t accurate, what is? Our fishing success is hard to explain otherwise.

An Excursion into Our Energy System

When our boat is connected to shore power in a marina, we naturally have no energy problems. But once the plug is pulled and the boat needs to be self-sufficient, it gets interesting. The responsibility for producing the required energy falls on us. Traditionally, most boats have their own diesel generator, cooled with seawater. But times have changed, and we never really understood why we should have another large and heavy machine on board that burns diesel, smokes, stinks, vibrates, and can be prone to breakdowns. 

Instead, we equipped our boat with a solar system consisting of six solar modules. These are housed in the port engine room and generate clean energy from sunlight. Our goal is clear: we want to be autonomous and not depend on shore power. We find it particularly appealing to be anchored in beautiful and spectacular places—marinas are used only when absolutely necessary.

The advantage of solar power is obvious. It’s environmentally friendly, sustainable, and available everywhere. But we are spoiled city dwellers and don’t want to entirely give up the comforts we’re used to on land. These include a small washing machine, an induction stove, a Thermomix, a dishwasher, and even air conditioning on board. These are all energy-hungry devices that would have been unthinkable for boat life a few years ago.

Today, all of this is possible thanks to our solar system. Peter took a lot of time to calculate our energy needs precisely and installed the appropriate solar panels on our upper deck. With a total output of 2400 watts, they generate enough electricity to meet our needs and simultaneously charge the batteries for windless times.

However, it turns out that during passages, we cannot always produce enough energy. Sometimes the solar panels are partially shaded by the sails. Therefore, in such cases, we still use our standard gas stove and oven to reduce electricity consumption. Occasionally, we also need to start the engines to generate additional electricity through their alternators.

We closely monitor the energy balance and consider whether it makes sense to add another 400 to 800 watts of solar panels. This way, we can ensure we maintain our usual comfort at sea without harming the environment.

Culinary Delights Day 8:

• Lunch: Fried potatoes with eggs and herbs
• Afternoon: Crepes with cinnamon and sugar, Nutella, or Grandma’s famous blackcurrant jam
• Dinner: Fajitas with filet strips à la Peter