I can't believe we are almost done with the first leg - it has been an experience so far!

The short race to, and stop over in Brest was a good introduction, but it is

almost a very distant memory now. This race - the 4500 sea miles so far - has

been full of highlights and incredible experiences. The most memorable for me has

been the encounters with wildlife: we've seen dolphins playing around the boat -

different types. Before the doldrums they were smaller and stubby with yellow

whitish bellies, and they moved extremely fast through the water. Sometimes two

or more of them would swim together and change direction in an instant, as if

they are in telepathic sync. They would jump and frolic around the bow and we

were sure they were looking at us while showing off in perfect performance. The

past couple of days - this side of the equator, they were slightly larger and

grey bellies - doing back roles to our delight. The guys were making fun of me

because I would get into a complete exhilaration state and forget everything

around me in awe of these creatures.

The whales are also a sight to see: a couple of weeks ago a Minkey whale

(spelling) followed us for miles and then swam gracefully around the bowsprit

before she decided to find a new play friend. Yesterday wee almost bumped into a

huge mother and calf right next to the boat - I am sure she was around two thirds

of the length of the boat. It could be quite a disaster if we do happen to crash

into a large whale, so we are on constant lookout.

Night time is an issue in terms of the whales, but we just hope they'll get out

of our way. There are other wonderful sights at night: the phosphorescence in the

wake of the boat amazes me every night. Sometimes big blobs of florescent green

jelly fish go past like watery street lights guiding our journey. And then, in

the full moonlight it is amazing to firstly hear their blow holes, but then to

watch the dolphins swim around right below us.

We've had beautiful sea birds fly around the boat because fish get stirred up by

the vessel and provide a welcome easy catch. A couple of exhausted and lost

swallows landed on the boat but we found the one dead on the deck the next

morning, and the other almost got trampled on while we were scurrying around in a

squall.

Flying fish are probably the most curious creatures we've seen so far. They fly

over the waves for almost 50 meters sometimes, and many have landed on the deck

or even through a port hole on the skipper's bed! These evolutionary curiosities

provide good entertainment for us rail side sitters.

We've even had a couple of butterflies in the middle of the ocean that probably

got swept along with winds from the coast.

Apart from the wildlife highlights there are many others to share, like the

beautiful fresh bread every day!!! More about this and other daily trivia of life

on the boat when I chat again.

Please follow our race and the skipper and crew blogs through our website. I will

be in more regular contact soon.

Love you all and miss you heaps!

Hugs and a big sailor's kiss

Ursula xx