World ARC - Day 61 - 9th March - Sunshine
Nina
Steve and Lynda Cooke
Thu 10 Mar 2016 09:25
World ARC - Day 61 - 9th March - Sunshine
Sunshine has returned along with our new found winds. Bright sparkling seas, fluffy clouds drifting across the skies and of course blue skies make a very different and welcome scene for us today. Just like at home everyone has their spirits lifted by the sunshine particularly after a few grey days in a row. On deck we all prize the shady spots underneath the bimini to watch the passing seas in search of wildlife. We do spy the odd turtle swimming around, birds swooping around on the air currents looking out for unwary fish. A few dolphins too.
As the day draws to a close with a spectacular sunset we enter the hours of darkness which is a different experience. The movement of the boat is now seemingly random under a moonless night and consequently catches us out with the odd lurch to the left or right. After nearly a week at sea we are beginning to get used to this and the unusual sleep patterns necessary for our watch system.
When you are over 1500 miles from the mainland and 900 miles from the Galapagos islands, the ARC fleet is widely dispersed you don't expect to see a white light on the horizon bobbing around. Karen saw the light first and went to investigate with Peter. Is it approaching us or not is the first question. Visual observation with the naked eye is inconclusive but the bearing appears to be constant off the starboard bow. Next we check the AIS to see if they are transmitting but nothing seen. We fire up the radar and after a few sweeps there does appear to be a vessel but it's quite feint so probably a wood or fibreglass boat rather than steel. Steve is roused from his slumbers for a second opinion and at first is as puzzled as the watch keepers. However after studying all the evidence we decide it must be a fishing vessel and the white light we can see through the binoculars is probably some sort of work light on their deck. By now it is also clear that we are leaving them on our starboard side still on the horizon at a safe distance. The rest of the night passes without incident but we are reminded of the need to keep a look out even this far away from land.