Part 1 from the Chris Hart Blog

The crossing from the Cape Verde’s to the Azores has proved to be somewhat of a challenge. We set off in fine weather from the barren sandy port Palmeria, but unfortunately the weather had changed over the next few days. The sudden taste of salt filling my mouth mixed with a wash of dusty rain from the direction of the Sahara was invasive, even while having to concentrate at the helm on keeping the ship on course.

All that could be seen, apart from acres of the cold ocean was a blurred horizon where the rain was building. The sea was a deep greenish-blue with whisps of white streaks where our trail was left behind us, dark clouds rose into a bruised and brooding sky, broken by the occasional splinter of moonlight that dazzled the tips of the ocean.

It was my responsibility to go to the chart house to complete my hourly log, checking temperatures, course and distance traveled, and of course making sure my watch were warm and not too fatigued. Oddly our friendly stow-away cricket hiding away in the flag cupboard on the bridge provided a tropical chorus as soon as dusk set in.

11 days without seeing another soul in this vast open stretch of desolate waters apart from the odd occasional pod of dolphins dancing through the bow waves and an isolated bird here and there apparently blown off course, why else would they be there? Anyway off to bed now at 4am into my little wooden bunk, cold, wet and hoping to catch a few hours if the rolling swell will oblige