The horizon is sharp and unsullied by sails, masts or ship superstructure. Apart from flying fish and very welcome visits from spotted dolphins, we are quite alone.
In the days of sail this westbound route from Cabo Verde was one of the world’s maritime superhighways. Hallowed paths trodden by Da Gama, Columbus, Drake, Cook and so many others. No longer. Only yachts come this way now. There must be 20 of them scattered across the Atlantic hereabouts but you wouldn’t know it.
Initially competing quietly with the 2 week records Donald Street refers to, I have now set myself Columbus’s 5 week crossing as a yardstick. I’ll beat the bastard if it kills me.