Cast off!

[Update from 26.11.]

The morning is relaxed: everyone sits around, drinking coffee, whoever wants breakfasts for themselves. I'm still in the process and on call. But when I realize that the action hasn't really started yet and Cyril himself still has to study the weather charts to give me an answer to the question of whether we are really leaving today, I say goodbye to the pontoon and do some yoga and mobility. The sun is shining today after it rained all night. It feels good to move and to have separated myself from sitting around and doing nothing.

On the jetty I meet Martin, Kristof, and Arthur. They are also all on pontoon 11 and are preparing for departure just like us. We say goodbye warmly and I am grateful for these unexpectedly friendly and helpful encounters.

Later, while walking around the marina, I also meet Matzek. He actually found someone as well and is ecstatic. I'm really happy for him. He has been actively looking for someone in the past few days and was promptly rewarded. I wonder if our paths will cross with these souls again.

In the morning, my task is to fill the water tanks. It's not particularly challenging, so I can sit in the sun, meditate, and write.

Elia and Julia prepared a salad for lunch with carrots, rice, eggs, olives, and the leftovers from yesterday's fish. By the way, we switch between Spanish and English, and I'm glad I can't stop speaking Spanish. Communication works well. At least in terms of content. Cyril and Massa don't often say what they need, and sometimes we don't know what to do with ourselves. When Massa and Cyril talk, they do it in French and to themselves. Not very transparent. One thing, however, is clear: we're leaving today!

To the annoyance of the men, the delivery of groceries to the gas station didn't work out. Cyril can really curse well in French, and I can't help but smile.

Julia, Elia and I are sent to Gibraltar to transport the groceries by taxi to the gas station, where Cyril and Massa will pick us up. We have a mission!

We leave the marina and will not return. Everything is going great, and our taxi is later loaded with our groceries on the paved side of the water-adjacent gas station: 16 six-packs of water, 10 large shopping bags, including definitely a lot of meat and a Serrano ham with a holder. The latter was particularly important.

There are more challenges ahead, as we are not allowed to carry the groceries through the store to the dock. Customs have to check or at least the boss has to allow it. Julia takes care of reaching the boss of the gas station and ultimately convinces him, so we can load and stow everything on the ship.

Then: cast off! We set sail and follow the sun towards the Strait of Gibraltar. On one side Europe, on the other Africa. I am really happy and joyful! Everyone is outside. The men are at the helm or busy somewhere, the three of us are looking towards the sun and the horizon. The wind tousles our hair, and now I have to put on long pants and my jacket again to relax. I sit with Cyril at the helm and we gaze into the distance. Occasionally, he briefly explains a few things to me. Then there is silence again. Just the wind and the waves roaring in our ears. Tonight, Cyril, Julia and I will take a night shift and keep an eye out for ships that could cross the autopilot course.

The time of the sunset is also very beautiful. We all stand together indoors, drink wine, I prepared guacamole and served vegetables for hummus dipping. The light is beautiful, and the mood is good. We spot dolphins approaching us in the evening sun, moving in their course towards the west. They jump out of the water and dive back in alternately. We are all fascinated. I go to the deck with Elia and Julia. The dolphins are briefly very close and suddenly gone.

Then it gets dark and there is no light inside either. Only the screens of the instruments glow a little. Cyril and Massa will stay awake together for now and guide us through the passage until we later turn more towards the south to head directly to Gran Canaria.

I lie down even though it's only 8 o'clock. I'm already tired from the fresh air and the glass of wine. Cyril will wake me up later for our shift.