We have begun to acclimatise to the watch pattern, and are finding it easier to sleep when we go off duty, which is a great relief! The four hours on/four off system that we are using is acceptable, even if it does not quite allow enough time for a deep sleep. Neither of us is happy to do what the single-handers do, and nap whilst on watch out of sheer terror that we would not wake up at the end of a 20 minute kip.....it is hard enough to do so after three and a half hours!

 

We had an encounter with a large tanker last night, which we found a bit exciting after the absence of any shipping traffic for a while. It appeared astern of us, well flagged with lights, AIS signal and on our radar. It was a bit of a surprise to see that it’s destination was Hamilton, which is also the port of registry of a lot of vessels out here. I know its daft, but we cold not help imagining the reaction of the locals to the arrival of a 1000 foot tanker, and thinking that Hamilton registration would probably be a flag of inconvenience.....

 

Getting a bit more rest has also allowed us to appreciate the night watches better, so I retract yesterday’s condemnation of them as boring! The phosphorescence caused by the boat’s passage is magical, sparkling and dancing in our wake, then dissipating as the wash dies. Similar beauties stretch above us, with the array of stars spanning the heavens: there is almost a cathedral like feel to the dome of twinkles, and there is a lot of activity up there. Shooting stars abound, with the space debris carving light tracers down to earth; one star suddenly increased its intensity hugely for a few seconds, and then went dark; and then there is the human intervention (if the debris is not rocket bits as well), since we seem to be under a transatlantic route, with frequent high level blinking of lights as another jet heads for the USA or leaves it for Europe. Odd to think that people above us could be back in the UK in hours, when we will be weeks away from a landing...

 

One thing we have noticed is that the nights are getting much colder already, in anticipation of UK temperatures. The low pressure system is something to do with it, but we have come hundreds of miles northwards too. Night watches require thermals and jackets to fend off the shivers. The days are also getting longer, with sundown now nearer 1900, close to an hour later than we had become used to.

 

We are about a third of the way to Bermuda now, and travelling at a decent pace, so expect a landfall probably on Thursday, all being well. Already looking forward to a stable bed, and a meal that does not have to be eaten out of a dog bowl!

 

Woof,

 

Watergaw