Oceans of Hope is approximately 150 nautical miles from Madeira and travelling at a speed of 6 – 8 knots.  Should the crew decide to stop off at the island they would expect to arrive their sometime tomorrow (Friday 8 August) morning.

The Skipper reports that after perfect sailing conditions when they set off, the weather has taken a slight turn for the worse, “After a beautiful sunny day yesterday, where we enjoyed northerly winds and had a chance to fly both spinnaker and genoa sails at the same, we have now awoken to more cloudy weather and less wind.”

He remains optimistic and told us that it gave them the opportunity for a bit of rest and relaxation, “The crew nevertheless seems sure that the wind will pick up during the day, as it has the last couple of days. Until the sun comes out we have decided to put on a movie in the crew mess, Finding Nemo!”

New MS crew member Luisa Matias, who joined the yacht in Lisbon to sail to Boston, told us about her, “epic adventure … on board the gorgeous Oceans of Hope” in today’s daily blog.

She added that there is more to the experience that just the “magic” of the experience, “There are great lessons to be learnt by belonging to this wonderful crew.  I now accept more willingly a hand to step up or to balance myself.  I now accept that I am more an “outside person” as Mikkel Anthonisen (there are three Mikkels on board!) pointed so well about himself.  He helped me to see more of the capabilities, the things that I can do: it is not good to lose myself in what I cannot change.”

Oceans of Hope is sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, calling in to Bermuda before arriving in Boston, USA, on 8 September. The yacht and crew will take centre stage at the joint ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS conference, the world’s largest annual international conference devoted to basic and clinical research in multiple sclerosis.

People with MS from all over the world can take part and places are still available on board throughout the journey. To find out more and to apply to take part, download the application forms.