Sunrise in the East, taken at 09.33 GMT
Reflection in the clouds due West at 09.22 GMT
Gray confused sea
22 Apr, 07 – 21.40
16.0730N,40.5148W
24 hr progress: 29.2 Nautical Miles
Distance to Antigua: 2499 Nautical Miles
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 1202 Nautical Miles ( 2223 km) (1 NM = 1.85 km)
Wave height: 10-12 ft, Winds: 20 knots ENE, Bearing: 270 -310 degrees.
Crazy winds all night and day. But me and Miss Olive are flying along despite the cross waves. Trying my best to maintain a daily average of 30 nautical miles.
The forecast was for 15 knots, but at times it feels a lot more than that, especially in the mornings and night. Not sure, if its because I am rowing without a shirt, and the wind and water on the skin give a different perception of strength.
This morning, as I was having breakfast on deck, I thought I saw about 50 small birds flying skimming over the water before diving in at intervals of 50 feet. It took me quite a while to get a closer look as the boat was rising and falling 8 feet between the waves and there were 2 waves between me and the fish.
It turned out to be a school of flying fish (or a flock?). I had never seen this variety before. The looked a lot more sleeker and faster than the usual belly-flopping variety of flying fish that hang around the boat. Or maybe it was just the force of the high winds that increased their range and speed.
I got woken up as we got hit by an unusually large wave in the afternoon that went right over the back and into the hatch. It poured a bucket of water into the cabin, as I was sleeping underneath.
Proud to say that after 50 days at sea, I have perfected the routine of damage control after a waves enters the cabin. In 15 minutes I can collect the water before it spills over the electronics, roll up the sleeping bag with the water inside and hanging it out in the sun on deck, dry the pillow (my towel and survival suit) and wiping the salt off my skin with baby wipes. Then went back to sleep.
Will keep this one shorter than usual. Very exhausted and trying to catch up on sleep after yesterdays extra-long rowing session.
Thanks to all for the messages. The are a welcome diversion out here.
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