We finally got a break from the heavy winds and big waves. Winds settled in he 15-20kn range (25-35 km/h) and waves down to 2-3m. Also, we’re sailing on a more comfortable downwind course (i.e having the wind from behind). Peaceful sailing, the kind I’ve been dreaming since we decided to cross the Atlantic.
Yesterday we started fishing and we brought a fish as close as 2 m from the boat when it snapped and broke free from the hook.
Today we had another one who managed to escape but at least it was further from the boat so we didn’t feel so frustrated. But then luck was on our side and we had a 2 kg dorado (mahi mahi) for lunch. As we thought we could fish for tomorrow too, I asked Huw to pick a lure and we cast the line just to catch another dorados lightly bigger. 2-2 fish versus us, we declared a draw and stopped fishing.

For those who don’t know the Seven Seas Adventure team: it’s just me (Liviu), Alina, our son Paul, who today had 4 years and 6 months and Huw (a friend who offered to help us with this crossing). It would have been to tiring for just the two of us to sail so long with Paul. When you have a kid of his age on a boat, you are 2.5 persons eating but just 1.5 sailing, as you need to give him a lot of attention.

We left Lanzarote almost a week ago one day after the other boats in the rally left due to technical problems we had to solve on the boat. We found out today, with surprise and joy that we are currently the 12th out of 35 boats judging by the distance remaining to Martinique. Not bad at all.

Paul is coping very well and I am amazed at his skill of walking, playing and jumping around in the boat even when the boats moves in all directions. Since two or three days, he is going on watch together with Alina and there’s no way to convince him not to. Of course he mostly sleeps, but it is promising…isn’t it.

We found just minutes ago, that the captain of the french boat with 4 kids (Cocojet III) and with whom Paul played a lot in Lanzarote, broke his ankle and was evacuated by the coast guard so we will not meet them at finish. What a shame. Paul and their daughter Atenais really enjoyed playing together.