Caroline writes: I think today has been the smoothest sea since we started sailing Discovery Magic nearly 3000 miles ago.  It’s as though the sea is fast asleep, breathing so softly that you can barely see its chest rise. The stillness is a luxury, like climbing in to the gentleness of a freshly laundered bed.  We have had lunch on the patio, (sorry, in the cockpit), had hot showers and the washing machine on, and watched Shakespeare in Love. We have only seen one yacht today and, bizarrely, when we called them on VHF radio, found that we know them.  My midnight watch is wonderful with a warm southerly breeze and the moon dipping in and out of the clouds, spilling patches of silver on to the sea. 

We have had dolphins visit us several times today, yet each time you are compelled to watch them.  I think of them as the teenagers of the sea, as they are like a watching a group of break dancers in the street.  The first hint of their arrival seems to be a gathering of birds – those in the neighbourhood that have sense that there might be some local entertainment. Even though we are doing eight knots the first dolphin to arrive knows he’s good and effortlessly shoots across our bow and rolls just in front of us, showing its lighter underbelly.  Word is out as others are coming in fast, often in two or threes, all wanting to try out the new toy, all with the exuberance of youth and the camaraderie of teenagers.  At first it seems as though they are flaunting their agility and grace as they dive and jump around the bow our boat, but you realise they are just there for the fun of it - because they can.  Numbers increase and they put on a great show coming in from port, then starboard, two at a time, three at a time.  Then from both bows at the same time, weaving, twisting, intersecting with each other, jumping in unison one moment, then switching: one diving, one jumping - and all the time busy chattering to each other.  Within a few minutes they are gone – to find something else to amuse them, but leaving you with joy and thankfulness that they took the trouble to come and visit.