Calm waters heading W 270º

After 8 days and 365 NM (676 km) of rowing in strong winds and high turbulent seas we have now arrived in a calm and practically windless area. Although rowing in a calm sea is actually harder because we can take less advantage of the waves and wind to maintain speed, it is a welcome moment to reorganize and switch to a different schedule – 2 hours on, 2 hours off – that gives us more rest time and the opportunity to pay a little more attention to taking care of our bodies.

In the meantime we enjoy the vastness of the Pacific, the impressive rainbows and we were also surprised by a so-called “Dolphins Stampede”; hundreds of dolphins that passed by at high speed. A fascinating sight with a sound that can best be described as a small fighter jet flying over.

But the ocean also knows how to cheer us up with its small vulnerable inhabitants. Like with this small special and beautiful creature. It is the Velella Velella (Dutch: Bezaantje) nicknamed ‘The Sailor of The Sea’. It looks like a jellyfish, but is not really. It is a colony of polyps and floats on the surface of the sea. On the top of the body is a vertical, gas-filled, triangular sail, so that it can be propelled by the wind. Hence its nickname. For days we have been surrounded by these special animals.

We all still feel good, enjoy the trip, even though it is sometimes exciting and a bit tiring. We are currently heading West 270º towards Hawaii, although at 1.5 knots it is not going so fast at the moment.