Today is Oceans of Hope’s 13^th day at sea crossing the Atlantic and the crew are starting to long for dry land.

Sailing Sclerosis founder and today’s blogger from the boat, Mikkel Anthonisen tells us in today’s blog that, whilst spirits are still high on board, there’s a yearning to, “walk on firm ground on the beach or in the street… enjoying the green trees, the flowers.”  They also dream about, “drinking a good cup of coffee in a café.” 

It comes from an instinctive, human desire for that, “feeling of security land-based creatures have when ashore,” he adds.

The Bosun’s report shed some further light on this home-sickness for shore.  He told us that yesterday was, “Another day with an engine, a blue sky and a baking sun. It was the same old story on board Oceans of Hope with a single Dorado on the rod, board games in the cockpit and some sun tanning on the deck.”  Perhaps there’s too much time to think when there’s no sailing to be done and the grass starts to look greener and more appealing than the big blue?

As Mikkel explains, “Crossing a big ocean… requires mental rigour and physical endurance, and persistence.”

One thing the crew have persisted at is the daily afternoon workshops at three o’clock.  These are currently enjoyed on deck, “under the shade with a cold drink” Bosun Bertram told us. 

These workshops are the time when everybody on board meets to discuss “what it means to us to be part of Sailing Sclerosis and on board Oceans of Hope” said Mikkel A.  Moreover, they talk about how they can, “use all the energy generated to leave behind a lasting legacy from Sailing Sclerosis.”  It’s an animated, enthusiastic and ongoing conversation.

After the workshop the crew decided to change the on board time from ‘UTC’ to ‘UTC -1’ in order to make up for the sun not following their pattern.  However, this proved a bigger challenge than expected.  “Some of the crew changed their clocks, some didn't and some even changed it the wrong way!  Three different time zones on boat is a perfect setup for chaos by the way…” said the Skipper.

Any chronological chaos must have been limited because this morning started with some welcome news.  Bertram reported that they were finally able to “set sails and expect to keep the engine off for a good while!”