It's been a fantasic 24 hours. The return of the sunshine yesterday was a relief, but we didn't believe it would last. The calmer, steady weather yesterday meant the sea was less swelly than normal which meant the boat was much more comfortable. As the sun set the stars came out and for the first time in about a week, as we are now on a waning moon which means it rises later and later after sunset, we were treated to the most extraodinary view of the stars - the milky way was out in force, as were Elon Musk's starlink satelites, marching across the sky in a uniform line! Being able to see the sky, uninterrupted from horizon to horizon on a 180 degree plain, 360 degrees in every direction, with zero light pollution, is an experience that we will cherish forever.

 

In a break from tradition of going to bed just after dinner, with the stars putting on a great display, the amazing mince pies that Sam had made (possibly the first mince pies ever to be made in the middle of the Atlantic), and the wine flowing, as well as the calm seas and the warm humid evening, we decided that last night should be movie night; a movie night like no other. Sailing downwind means the main sail is pushed out on the boom to the side, so from the cockpit you look at the main sail side-on which just so happens to create the perfect projector screen. We hooked up the projector and pointed it to the sail and giggles of excitement went around the crew as we realised we had created the world's best sail-in cinema. The choice of films was limited but it wasn't about the film, it was about the experience. When else will you get to sit on a boat, under the most amazing star filled sky, the warm air breeze and the gentle sound of the waves in the background, eating mince pies and drinking port whilst you settle in for a film with the best crew you could wish for?

 

The night was calm too - no squalls, no rain, no mad wind to deal with. We awoke to a beautiful sunrise, 18 knots of wind, and a perfectly blue sky. Today, we decided, would definitely be swim day! This thought has been fine when it was a 'future us' thing we needed to deal with but we decided it was now or never - we are as far from land as we will ever be and today was meant to be the calmer of the next several - so we waited until the wind had dropped a little, took down the sails, stuck a few lines in the water and went for it. We were sensible - one person at a time. Will stepped up first and with the phrase "this is definitely a good idea, right?" he leapt from the boat into the 6000m of warm blue Atlantic water. What struck us almost immediately was the speed we were still travelling, as very quickly Will was passing us by at some speed, and then swimming to catch up with the trailing rope we had attached and put out the back. He grabbed ahold of it and pulled himself back to the side to get back in. One by one we leapt into the abyss - a short period of elation giving way to a momentary sense of panic as the boat continued un-apologetically past us. But what a rush! The crystal clear reality and the warmth of the Atlantic a million miles from our preconceptions. What did make us all sit up a bit straight however was just how quickly the boat drifted by, and that was without any sails up. Though we had a person on the helm and were ready to turn the boat around quickly if needed, it brought it home that if one of us was to fall over accidently whilst we were sailing, the boat would be far away before we knew it. We have been very sensible about safety - life jackets during the day if you're going out the cockpit, and safety tethers at night even in the cockpit. We are not complaicant to the situation we are in and the dangers it can present. 

 

Tonight is steak night. The 1.5kg ribeye has been drying and salting in the fridge all day and I am excited by it. And Will has just been rustling up a nice focaccia to go with it.  This really is now the last of the fresh food - we have very little left now - just the frozen batch, meats and frozen veggies etc. Plenty to live on but nothing fresh after today!