Day 3 has been our recovery day — starting with a lovely breakfast of pancakes and freshly pressed orange juice while flying the spinnaker. As the day went on, the wind gradually disappeared — or rather, the trade winds were canceled out by a massive low-pressure system that’s giving the Portuguese coast and the UK some grief. It looks like the Canaries will also feel its effects over the next few days.

For us, that meant starting one engine — partly to avoid strong headwinds later in the week and also to make the cutoff days. (…already wondering if there is enough fuel for the entire ARC + fleet to fill up…)

But the lack of wind also meant a lack of swell, and life aboard has been wonderfully comfortable for all of us. One highlight was a large pod of dolphins that spent at least twenty minutes with us, putting on quite a show — leaping and slapping the water with their fins as if to make sure we were watching. As always, it was a magical and humbling experience.

After a simple dinner of bangers and mash with some ratatouille, the boys and I began to stargaze. Words can’t fully express my gratitude for such a perfect moment — the night sky was truly awe-inspiring. Lying on the roof of Akuna, no light disturbing the view except our own, surrounded by the quiet vastness of the ocean, we watched the stars burn bright above us, countless and constant .

How quickly those low moments improve on a sailboat is still fascinating!