18 May 2026 at 10:12:52 BST

Day 17

It’s been an awesome day by any standards. We’re rolling down the trades with much rolling side to side still

Getting closer to Ponta Delgada, Azores

with minimal winds demanding careful movement around Sukama whilst engaged in frenetic activity whether interrogating the photos of the day, working on a laptop, playing suduko or enjoying a convivial beer at the end of our flat out demanding day. Such it is now at 9pm with the last of the sunset pinks fading into greys and cirrus clouds approaching from the northwest herealding the approaching low, with real wind! Feels a bit late in the day but Charlie assures us of a boisterous final few days of this epic voyage!

But I digress. Firstly, thanks to ‘Skipper’ guest blog creator of yesterday, though apologies to our rapt audience for the later arrival than normal on the editors desk. And further apologies if you were inadvertently confused about our direction of travel – did bit of a double take on that one myself!

Backing up to the very beginning of the day, Paul took over the watch from me at midnight. We briefly debated running out the headsail so we could turn the engine off, but the increasingly hopeful 10/11 knots of wind decreased as we watched to a less than hopeful 7/8 knots making the decision easy. I bade him a good watch and went to turn in. Next thing I knew there were steps on the deck, so in the interests of taking my role (whatever that might be – never was one for titles) and responsibilities seriously I turned back to see what was up. I was met by a stretched safety line presumably with a Paul on the end, and a dolphin floodlit in the beam of his head torch. At last! I was beginning to fear that with 2 Atlantic crossings under his belt he still had yet to see a real pod of dolphins. Today changed everything.

Responsibly clipped on to the jackstays, he made his way forward to the bow, camera in hand, head torch on, one hand for the boat. And was to stay there mesmerised for the next 20 minutes. What a display! In the pitch black of a night with no moon and clouds blotting out the stars, Paul had his own personal display of dolphins at play as they darted in and out, under the bow, rode the bow wave, out to the side and back in to rejoin the fun. And what brilliant photographic captures as highlighted with his head torch they showed up under the water dramatically better than they do in daylight. I was so happy for him, so pleased that they’d chosen to put on a truly extraordinary show for his benefit. He in turn was sorry that I’d missed it, but I was more than happy to have born witness to his private viewing.

Dolphins playing in front of the bow of the boat

The rest of the day continued in predictable fashion – engine on, engine off, debates around setting sails or not, almost got the parasailor up but before we could even run a single sheet the wind had changed in direction and strength yet again, from something looking just hopeful to hopeless. Parasailor tackle away, and then the shout went up – dolphins!

Somehow they never fail to charm us. Always smiling (apparently!) they are a delight to behold, but this time all 4 of us shipmates were able to enjoy them together, just as Paul wanted.

After that, another pod leaving us remarking that all we needed now is a whale. Sitting in the cockpit under the bimini hiding from the sun and putting the final finishing touches to the now infamous tablecloth, there was a strange noise. I looked up to find a whale so close I could almost reach out to touch him. Shouted for the others. Another blow, as he glided along the surface, then briefly disappeared beneath moseying on down in a languid leisurely fashion surfacing a couple more times. It was a heart stopping moment. One you could never contemplate, less still deserve. I think we were all stunned, couldn’t quite believe our eyes. In the vast expanse of sparkling shimmering ocean, the 4 of us had experienced something almost otherworldly. Our cups were full and brimming over.

Yet one more pod of dolphins before our sublimely beautiful day concluded with 4 hearts full of gratitude and sundowners as the sun dipped towards the horizon.

Sue

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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/ 

Odyssey 2 day 7 – 9: https://blackwells.biz/atlantic-odyssey-2-day-7-9/

Odyssey 2 day 10: https://blackwells.biz/atlantic-odyssey-2-day-10/

Odyssey 2 day 11 – 13: https://blackwells.biz/atlantic-odyssey-2-days-11-13/

Odyssey 2 day 14: https://blackwells.biz/atlantic-odyssey-2-day-14/

Odyssey 2 day 15 – 16: https://blackwells.biz/atlantic-odyssey-2-day-15-16/