On the ocean again.
We saw more freighters between Horta and Ireland than we did between St. John's and Horta.
Anthony got to play the guitar and sing once and awhile. We did 2 hours steering in the cockpit and 4 hours off on the trip to Ireland. That gave us a lot more free time for reading, cooking, sleeping and music.
It was very dark at night. We had stary nights only twice the rest of the time it was very cloudy and very black. The dolphins would often visit us at night and chatter away at us and swim around the boat. It was always so much fun when they were with us.
Great sunset.
We somehow wrapped a line around the prop one night so in the morning Anthony went overboard and under the boat to unwrap it. In doing so he brushed up against the bottom of the boat and the anti-foulant paint came off on his hair and T-shirt. His hair stayed bluish until we got to Ireland.
Jim, catching a few ZZZZs during his time off watch.
This is a self-portrait while I was on watch and steering in the cockpit. This is the last time you'll see my sou'wester...it blew off in a storm on the Irish Sea later on our trip.
This is the monitor on our Chartfinder and GPS. We are 562 nautical miles from Ireland going 6.1 knots at 63 degrees. We were averaging 100 nautical miles per day so that means we were about 5 and a half days from Ireland.
Another freighter. We saw them at night too. They were actually easier to see at night because they were all lit up. In the day time they were grey like the water and often would sneak up on you. This is a container ship.
My legs were too short to reach across the cockpit so Jim made me a foot stick so that I could stabilize myself. It made a lot of difference with keeping me in one place as the boat moved all around.
Me on watch in the cockpit.
Me getting tired on watch in the cockpit.
Me getting bored on watch in the cockpit.
Jim at the helm.
Every couple of days I would give the boys a treat to keep their spirits up. Jim loved his chocolate treats and cookies.
Sunrise.
Sailing on the North Atlantic is COLD.
This is a chart of the south part of Ireland at Cork where we came in. Ballykissangel was suppose to be close to this spot too. We docked at Crosshaven.