The skies here are exceptionally clear with no light pollution and little cloud. Last night was a new moon, but the stars remained bright enough to illuminate the sea and puffs of cloud. It is the time of the Gemenids meteor shower and the show was spectacular. Elizabeth had never seen a shooting star before. A few days ago we saw one so intense it left a trail of sparks in its wake like a rocket as it burned up in our atmosphere. Just before dawn, James used the sextant to take two star sights. He only determined our position accurate to 18nm so has decided he needs more practice.
The ocean here is very deep. We are over the abyss and the water stretches out 5km below us. There are few nutrients in the waters here which leaves the ocean the deepest and purest indigo, punctuated only by flecks of white spume. The children enjoyed sitting on the gunwall this afternoon, dragging their legs in the warm seas each time the boat rolled in the swell. We watched three silver flying fish scoot over the waves. I was amazed to see them glide upwards over the waves as well as down the other side as I'd assumed they'd fly flatter.
Tomorrow we reach the half way point. Just prior to our departure from Cascais, all the boats received a special parcel from Panerai, not to be opened until the halfway mark. There has been much speculation as to what it contains...
sky here grey - highwinds - heavy rain - dont u wish u were here. Did u not eat today - miss the running saga of the food - love mum xx
ReplyDeleteAccording to tracker you are 6th now. I think the children were on the gunwale but that's the limit of my nautical knowledge. What maths are you teaching? A bit of trig might let the children do the navigating and position finding. According to tracker the winds will be a lot lighter in 3 days time. Have fun and lots of love Dad xxxxx
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