Lat N 34 24 / longitude W 011 32

Day 30
The sea was not calm for long, now it's freshening again. A fresh breeze from
South, yes you are right, SOUTH. We could not be happier,
it allows us to leap towards Gibraltar, where we first stop. From there
we will find out where it's best to put up Anastasia over the summer.
Not only has this been a windy night, there has also been rain and thunder. I saw
several bursts of lightning flounce down to the sea through an illuminated sky.
While we have some kind of lightning rod on top of the mast, we are
a small exposed dot on the sea in a thunderstorm.
When I was out camping with the family as a child, we had to sleep
in the car all night if there was thunder.

Anna Karin

Lat N 33 20 / long W 015 00

Day 29
Yesterday we passed Madeira, it took all afternoon and evening. We
had a couple of hours coverage on the GSM phone, so we took the opportunity to
call friends and family. It was fun to get a break in the otherwise
permanent view of the ocean. Gray ocean or blue ocean, calm seas and wild
seas. We have seen some water flowing past, or are we flowing
through? Never mind, we have now been four weeks at sea from Rio.

Anna Karin

Lat N 32 12 / longitude W 017 40

Day 28
When we sailed in the Pacific, we looked for the mountain of garbage which we had heard about, but there was no floating island of garbage, it was clean. French
Polynesia Marquesas, Tuamoto it was clean water. What could be seen
floating around was coconuts, palm leaves, branches and twigs.
In Patagonia, didn't see any trash in the water either, just kelp,
lots of kelp.
The garbage zone started off Rio de Janeiro, where it was like sailing in
a sewage plant. We believe that all debris from the beaches just went right
into the sea. In recent days, the trash has increased where we are sailing, we are
on the level of the Canary Islands and Madeira. If you just look down
is always something floating in the water. Buoys, fenders, PET bottles,
plastic bags. Plastic bags are sneaky, they float about half a meter below the surface.
World, recover!

Anna Karin

Lat N 31 17 / long W 020 28

Day 2
On such a long route you are guaranteed to get becalmed in some
part. We did not get our share around the equator, but have had it now.
The wind is so weak that it does not blow out the sails.
We have been running the machine more or less the whole
night. It's okay because we have plenty of diesel left. At the start of a trip, we have 500 liters in the tanks, plus 150 liters in cans. With this we can run by motor for approximately 1200 nm.
The weather is also nice, sunny but not too hot, and a crystal clear air.
We expect that this is the last Sunday at sea.

Anna Karin

Lat N30 14 / long 22 53 W

Day 26
After three weeks on the starboard tack, the wind has now given us
conditions to turn and sail by the port necks. The wind has
backed down and is currently NNW. We enjoy steering almost directly towards our
goal. Now everything must take its position on the other side. Things that
were safe in the bookcase before, now go flying across the floor. We must re-package
and fix down. The body has become used to compensating in one direction,
it must now use other muscles. Ocean sailing makes you lose strenght in your
leg muscles, when we went ashore after 30 days at the Pacific just before Christmas
I felt shaky the first few days.
Today we record less than 1000 nautical miles left.

Anna Karin

Lat 29 27 / long W 025 17

Day 25
Knäckebröd, I thought when I woke up today. Would be nice. Why do you find
it almost exclusively in Sweden? It is such a practical bread that does not become
stale when properly stored. One can enjoy it alone or with various
toppings. My absolute favorite is the butter and grevé cheese. We bought lots
at IKEA in Alameda in August. Due to a salt water leak on the first
stretch, we were forced to dump it all overboard. Now you dare start indulging
your fantasies about certain foods, we are approaching our destination. There is today not much more than 1200 NM to go.

Anna Karin

Lat N 28 00 / W 026 40

Day 24
Another stowaway. You may remember the last bird of indeterminate species,
which spent one night huddled in the outboarder, then went away. Our new
stowaway landed yesterday afternoon. He introduced himself as Mr
Dove. Walked around and inspected the boat. Toward evening, he had
decided he would stay overnight. He crawled into the rubber boat,
where he has been since. We have set out a dish of water for him. Mr Pigeon
has a ring around one leg, perhaps he has a letter attached to it. Then
he is a mail pigeon. I'm not going to touch him, I'm not so fond of
birds, what if he carries the bird flu virus.

Anna Karin