8 May 2026 16:50 GMT
Day 7
Trust you enjoyed the interlude from the subversive imposters otherwise known as the The Crew. They do most certainly earn their keep in many and varied ways keeping us on our toes, asking questions such as ‘which
line’ when asked to tension the kicker with nothing by that name – ‘so that’ll be the vang then?’ Of course! Producing culinary delights with an occasional ‘here’s one I made earlier’ or finding a way to make a
fruit device speak to the ships computer, or catching dinner. Able and willing to turn their attention to any challenge large or small, whilst discovering more about each other’s respective passions and interests.
Malcolm washing and Paul drying up in the galley
There are a few mysteries which make Malcolm and me smile, which will perhaps be divulged when we’re nearing our one and only planned destination! Mustn’t sing their praises too loudly or it’ll go to their
heads!
On sailing. There was some this afternoon, for maybe 5 hours. We made speeds between 1.9 and 5.5knots. But the good news is that it was in the right direction. Every day Malcolm has been getting a little more
edgy as we burn more fuel to propel ourselves along without the benefit of wind on a course bound for the North Pole hunting down a puff of wind. Understandably so, though we all see things in slightly different
ways. I’m happy to share that a real conversation – on a phone – with Charlie has returned him to his temporarily misplaced irrepressibly positive self. And we’re now heading due east on a direct course to
Tazacorte, La Palma:-)
Last night had an interesting moment as we grazed the active front and were then enveloped by a squall 5 miles across around 3am. Why is it that every ‘event’ happens at 3am?
Anthony and I were alerted on Malcolm’s watch by him doggedly pulling in the furling line of the furiously flapping confused genoa. Winds of low 20s followed heeling Sukama but easing the main and putting her on a
broad reach was an immediate fix for that problem, followed by reefing the main. Apparently we’d been travelling down the corridor between squalls when one predicted to pass 3 miles away had suddenly changed
course. They’re often travelling at 45mph so any change can be upon you very quickly. Other smaller ones passed by without incident.
But it was good. A challenge presented. Reactions. Solutions. Teamwork. Together.
9 May 2026 at 08:09:51 BST
Day 8
Day dawned. Motoring east. Malcolm horizontal for a few hours – it’s his day off. Still need wind but morale is good. Love this crew!
We’re all to be found focused on our various devises or occasionally reading books for light relief. I seem to be the only one with a preference for pen and paper – somehow I find I can think through the pen in a way I can’t when tapping on a keyboard. Charlie informs us that in this time frame he’s usually supporting yachts to thread a safe passage through the storms making this an unusual challenge for him too.
Wonder what the chef of the day will cunningly create? But then even he can’t answer that before the hunters have landed their quarry. It’s mid morning and the line has run out twice to be reeled in having hooked more sargasso weed which is everywhere in smaller or larger clumps. It also caused us a problem with our water intake yesterday but happily, and thankfully, that was caught by Paul’s keen hearing and shaken loose with a bit of toing and froing.
The day continued in a similar vein. Anthony and Paul found themselves in deep discussion about doors – yes, doors! When not on board Sukama or renovating houses Paul is to be found fitting doors on oil rigs many miles offshore anywhere in the world with Brunei being a favoured destination where he”s spent a lot of time. But just now, with the world yet unaware, Anthony and Paul are designing the next generation of doors, the door of all doors. Watch this space. Could today be the inaugural day of new horizons in both their lives where together they bring management, product design, sales and service to the industry.
Chef Malcolm periodically regained a vertical attitude producing a sumptuous lunch including the house special hot hot hot chickpea salad, the biggest panful of caponata I have ever seen, and creative use of leftovers for dinner. Friday wouldn’t be Friday and the end of the week without Blackwell style celebration of wine and cheese and chat whilst the sun sets on the far western horizon and lights the sky in a blaze of orange and pinks reflected in the gently undulating calm of this mill pond sea. A dolphin passed by but sadly didn’t choose to stop to play in the bow wave.
Just after midnight the half moon has risen making its first appearance in its intense orange mantle before gradually shedding it as it rises towards its zenith throwing down a path of silvery light.
There’s been an official announcement. ‘Wind is delayed. We are sorry for any inconvenience to your journey.’
10 May 2026 at 11:12:11 BST
Day 9
You couldn’t write it if you’d tried. Atlantic – wind? – what wind? Thank heavens for our huge fuel tank though sincerely hope that we don’t need to use all of it. The engine service interval is 250 hours. We had it done in Jolly Harbour immediately before we left since when we have motored for 93.5hours – next thing I know the boys will be doing the next service!
Otherwise all is well, including morale. One way or another we’ve covered over 1082 nautical miles.
It’s Paul’s day off again which means that he has decided to stress about food for the day as he really doesn’t want to make those decisions. His comment ‘I dread this day’ says it all! I’m hoping that my apparent lack of support will mean that subsequent ‘chefing’ days will be easier for him! Having said that, lunch was delicious with perfectly ripe avocado and thoughtfully cut tomatoes. Thank you Paul!
We’re all engrossed in our own little worlds coming together for meals and probably inevitably finding ourselves discussing climate change, changes in the Gulf Stream and the Jet stream – neither of which are currently helping – and the future for oceanic voyaging. Is this, like rafting the Grand Canyon, something that we can do now but in say 20 years time with the weather becoming more extreme, will this still be accessible to people like us? We represent people with a yearning to explore off the beaten track, to experience in person rather than read about it or watch it on TV. I think it’s fair to say that we’re all about experiencing and embracing the possible for each of us in a way which is meaningful to us regardless of our given name be that Malcolm, Sue, Jen, Anthony or Paul.
It’s now 0545 and I’m sitting in the cockpit surrounded by a sea of untidy lines, because we have wind! Only 10 knots but it’s something, and we’re heading in an easterly direction under sail – at last! There’s a lot of frontal activity. The first one we passed under didn’t help at all. It had no wind that we could use. But this is the second. It’s not strong, but when you’ve had nothing for days on end, it’s brilliant! Fingers crossed it lasts.
Video taken on January crossing Canaries to Caribbean when conditions were quite different!
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Team members: Malcolm, Sue, Anthony, Paul, George the autopilot, Charlie our weather router
Pete and T-J are in the UK receiving and sharing our updates via the wonders of satellite.
Photos and videos from previous crossings by Sukama.
Previous adventure updates
Odyssey 2 start – day 3: https://blackwells.biz/atlantic-odyssey-2-start/
Odyssey 2 day 4 – 5: https://blackwells.biz/atlantic-odyssey-2-days-4-5/
Odyssey 2 day 6: https://blackwells.biz/atlantic-odyssey-2-day-6/