Palm Pleasure 2

Saturday, May 16

Over the past few days, sargassum seaweed has started to appear. At first, there were only a few isolated brown patches, but gradually the brown algae began forming long chains across the surface of the water. Since the dolphins at the beginning of our crossing, we haven’t seen any more marine mammals, much to my disappointment. I must admit that I still keep scanning the horizon whenever I step onto the deck, with the slightly naïve hope of spotting a whale in the distance. After several days at sea, Punch is also beginning to show the marks of the crossing. A thin layer of salt seems to settle everywhere constantly, and in the saloon, crumbs, dust, and flying fish scales quickly start to accumulate. So we brought out buckets of seawater to give the saloon a thorough cleaning, and honestly, having a fresh and tidy living space again feels incredibly good. Fresh water is also becoming precious: we only have 250 liters left on board, so naturally we have to be careful. Although, quite ironically, the announcement suddenly gave everyone an overwhelming urge to take a shower! Our sweet supplies are also running dangerously low, including breakfast essentials. Since there are only three chocolate bars left on board, I decided to make crêpes to bring a little comfort to the crew. We’re all starting to feel a bit worn out from the night watches, the heat, and the constant motion of the boat. Snatching a few minutes of sleep during the day has become almost essential if we want to handle the night shifts in good condition.