Yesterday was a beautiful day. The sun shone down and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. After the stormy weather it was a welcome break. We spent most of the day out on deck enjoying the sunshine and watching the Petrels and Albatrosses glide around the boat with minimal effort.The days and dates meld into one long expanse of time measured only by our watch system. We also no longer have lefts and rights, only Port and Starboard. We now measure our own direction by that of the ship. In the afternoon, I took the opportunity to venture out onto the Bowsprit, the almost horizontal mast that protrudes from the front of the boat. It is surrounded by netting that you can lie in with nothing but the ocean below you. As well as providing a unique hammock, this place provides a magnificent perspective of the ship which looks spectacular under full sail.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. The sun shone down and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. After the stormy weather it was a welcome break. We spent most of the day out on deck enjoying the sunshine and watching the Petrels and Albatrosses glide around the boat with minimal effort.The days and dates meld into one long expanse of time measured only by our watch system. We also no longer have lefts and rights, only Port and Starboard. We now measure our own direction by that of the ship.

In the afternoon, I took the opportunity to venture out onto the Bowsprit, the almost horizontal mast that protrudes from the front of the boat. It is surrounded by netting that you can lie in with nothing but the ocean below you. As well as providing a unique hammock, this place provides a magnificent perspective of the ship which looks spectacular under full sail. We had the 8pm to midnight watch last night. The crystal clear air gave us a view of the stars like no other I've seen before. Venus shone so brightly that we could see her reflection in the sea. Even before the moon rose, the sky was brightly lit with stars, the Milky Way and Nebulae which were clearly visible. Orion the hunter rose upside down in the northeast. Although who is to say which way is up! The sea was bright too with the light of the stars although the horizon all around was jet black. You could understand why the ancient mariners hought they might fall off the edge of the world if they sailed too far. Even I felt a little disconcerted sailing towards that black edge.