New Year's Eve on the Atlantic

Midday position 19 25.7N 54 34.24W

With less than 400 miles to go and an ETA of Monday Ivanka is relishing the perfect sailing conditions that we have been experiencing for the past few days. Today the humour levels that had deserted us yesterday have returned with the end of the voyage now just over the horizon.

Yesterday the constant rolling motion, as we sailed downwind in between 25 and 38 knots of breeze, had taken it's toll on us all. Sleeping had become increasingly difficult as the only way to stay in our luxury double beds was to 'think heavy' and visualise velcro gloves and knee pads! That is all well and good until you dose off and the next waves flicks you off the bed and into a crumpled heap on the floor! On a yacht where the boom costs in excess of £100k I have not worked out why lee clothes, which cost just £50, are not considered an option! I can only assume drilling holes in the beautifully crafted woodwork is a bit of a no no!

'Better than a smack in the face with a wet fish.' I am trying to remember where that quote came from. I seem to think it was either Buldric in Black Adder or Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses. I wonder if whoever it was had actually been inspired after being hit in the face by a flying fish. Let me assure you that it is not the most pleasant experience, especially when it happens for a second time in two days! The first time was funny but last nights encore was not quite so amusing!

Yesterday, after watching the movie of Shakleton's ill fated expedition to the Antarctic in 1914, my thoughts drifted to the team aboard Sea Shepherds vessel deep in the Southern Ocean who were struck by a monster wave this week. The last that we heard was that the Steve Irwin (Sea Shepherds flag ship) had diverted to mount a rescue operation after severe structural damage had been sustained. The volunteers of Sea Shepherd are doing an amazing job by taking on the Japanese whalers so our thoughts are very much with them and hope for a positive outcome.

The spirit of Sea Shepherd was made all the more poignant today as we all witnessed one of the most incredible experiences I have had at sea. We were all sat in the cockpit enjoying a mid morning coffee when Sophie shouted 'dolphin....or something.' My next thought was 'well that is the biggest dolphin I have ever seen!' In the 10 foot wave directly behind us the shadow of something very large emerged. My jaw dropped and my mouth was left wide open as my heart missed a beat. It was a humpback whale just 20 metres from our transom.

It was clearly visible, perfectly suspended inside the wave, the magnificent mammal flicked its tails a couple of times before disappearing into the deep blue ocean. If a camera had been to hand then the subject would have been worthy of a press photography award. As it is the image will have to be stored in my brain as I keep playing the moment back time and time again. This was by far the most memorable encounter I have experienced of these enigmatic and beautiful creatures, seeing the whale side ways on from head to tail, with its eye wide open watching us, and all its white markings underneath clearly visible was a sight to behold. This is surely the highlight of the voyage for me.

For the next forty minutes the whale kept pace with us, as if either she was escorting us or we were escorting her to the Caribbean. She surfaced a couple of times to blow her air and on occasions we could make out her silhouette in the dark blue waves just two boat lengths from us before disappearing into the abyss.

As my thoughts returned to Sea Shepherd I was filled with an overwhelming anger. 'Why when there are less than 60,000 humpback whales left in our oceans are the Japanese still murdering over 2,000 of them every year?' The answer to that question is beyond me but I feel quite privileged to have the memory of glaring into the eye of one of the natural wonders of our world. I for one will be sending my membership fee in next week.

Back to life onboard Ivanka, it is New Years Eve and we have decided to welcome in the New Year at midnight GMT. It seems appropriate and apt to celebrate at the seafarers meridian and more importantly, it is watch change over time so there will be no disruption to anyones sleep! All that is left to do today is finalise our New Year resolutions, put the champagne on ice and welcome in a New Year, albeit it in a slightly different way to normal. I have gotta feeling that 2012 is going to be a fantastic year.

Wishing you all a fantastic New Year. We hope whatever you are doing tonight you have as much fun us us out here.

Lots of love to you all

James, Marianne, Philippe and Sophie
X

Hallo lieve allemaal,

We willen dit blog er nu gauw uit sturen, zodat het jullie hopelijk nog krijgen voor de oudjaarsavonturen beginnen! We hebben hier net het avondeten op & iedereen schepte ongeveer 3 keer op, dus ik geloof dat ze m'n Marokkaanse lam tagine wel lekker vonden.. ;)

We hebben dus nog maar 380 NM te gaan & hebben allemaal zin in onze eerse avonturen aan wal, we hebben tijdens de lunch vandaag gepolst waar we allemaal het meeste zin in hebben en uit de keuze van:

- eerste alcholische drankje
- maaltijd waarbij we niet onze borden etc vast hoeven te houden
- ongestoorde nachtrust

kwam uiteindelijk toch de nachtrust als winnaar uit de bus. We hebben (te) goed gegeten deze overtocht en voor vannacht staat een flesje bubbels koud te worden in de koelkast, dus nu dromen we alleen nog van een ongestoorde nacht op een stil bed..

Ik hoop dat jullie een ontzettende fijne avond hebben & dat we elkaar gauw weer zien in het nieuwe jaar!! Wij sturen vanavond onze goede voornemens & heel veel liefs voor jullie naar de sterrenhemel.

Xxxx
James, Marianne, Philippe & Sophie

PS: http:\\translate.google.nl