The engine changes revs and I bolt out of my bunk and dress quickly for I know we are at the straits of Messina. The lads laugh as I climb out of the saloon as Mark had told Dan “This’ll…

Newton’s Law states that every action has an equal an opposite action. A drinking law states that every great night leads to an equally great hangover. The morning is difficult, but we make the best of it. I only realise…

Boat Captains tend to go the same way. Different reasons for different boats. Shipping lanes rule in straits and gulfs, on approach to large ports, passing around capes, headlands etc. Small vessels, such as us, should cross these lanes at…

The Tyrrhenian Sea. The most interesting thing about it is it’s name, according to Mark. “Nothing ever happens here.” It’s 10.20am, I’ve been up since 3am. Squeaking helm wheel is a nightmare in the cabin, keeps interrupting my dreams. Night…

07:38am
 
41°26’914N 008°39’411E
 
Course is 112°T speed 5.6kt

No wind, calm sea. Did first watch last night from a bit after 8pm until midnight. Damp and cold but wearing everything I own so all good. Not as fearful as the…

“Morning gorgeous! How you doing!” in a thick Kerry brogue shocked me out of my dreams. Dan later told me he’d been thinking for a while about how exactly he was going to wake me. 6am. It’s my watch. 

…

At sea. This is special. Left Canet just before dawn. I’m writing this just after sunset. We glimpsed a bottle nose dolphin soon into the journey. Hours later we were joined by a common dolphin who surfed our bow wave…