I always look forward to an overnight passage with both anticipation and apprehension. The open ocean is an amazing place as day turns to night. We have seen many incredible sunrises and sunsets. Sailing allows you to experience all the changes in light and color that occur in twenty four hours. It is always magnificent. As the sun comes up the sultry colors are diluted with the brightness of the sun and all day the light changes and is reflected by the water. At night the stars are breathtaking with no light pollution to interfere with their brightness. Sunrises and sunsets are usually gloriously beautiful but moonrises and sets are fascinating and magical. The moon works its magic by constantly changing shape and color. I always consider it a bonus to have a moon to sail by at night. With the absence of moonlight the night is the blackest black. You might hear birds or sea life but at best you’ll see a shadow from the running lights on the mast of the boat.
During the day we have seen many whales, some too close for comfort, breaching and blowing and some in the distance noticed only because we see the plume of spray from a blow hole or a huge splash of water. We now easily recognize the sound of a blowhole or the scent before we see the source, regardless of how far away. We never get over being awe-struck by the sight of whales.
During the day we have seen many whales, some too close for comfort, breaching and blowing and some in the distance noticed only because we see the plume of spray from a blow hole or a huge splash of water. We now easily recognize the sound of a blowhole or the scent before we see the source, regardless of how far away. We never get over being awe-struck by the sight of whales.
What great fun to see the manta rays literally fly out of the water, flapping their wings and showing their silver bellies! Sometimes they will break the surface two or three times and once in a while we get the added treat of seeing synchronized flying by a number of them. They always catch us off guard and make us burst out laughing because they are so darn cute. I saw one come out of the water, flap his wings and do a forward flip and land on his back. I wonder if he was as surprised as I was!
We never cease to be delighted when dolphins swim alongside our boat. It is always a thrilling experience to watch their acrobatics and high speed maneuvers and of course I am running from one side of the boat to other trying to see them all. This sight in the day is truly amazing, but I was lucky enough to be on watch during a moonless night when they suddenly appeared alongside the boat swimming through phosphorescent water! They looked like glistening torpedoes zooming just below the surface. There were many of them so the luminescent trails crisscrossed many times. Their jumping out of the water added another level of awe to the scene because the splash landing looked as if someone was throwing buckets of glitter over the water. It was absolutely magical!
We never cease to be delighted when dolphins swim alongside our boat. It is always a thrilling experience to watch their acrobatics and high speed maneuvers and of course I am running from one side of the boat to other trying to see them all. This sight in the day is truly amazing, but I was lucky enough to be on watch during a moonless night when they suddenly appeared alongside the boat swimming through phosphorescent water! They looked like glistening torpedoes zooming just below the surface. There were many of them so the luminescent trails crisscrossed many times. Their jumping out of the water added another level of awe to the scene because the splash landing looked as if someone was throwing buckets of glitter over the water. It was absolutely magical!