The sailing has begun

But life is looking a bit grimmer for the unlucky ones, as they spend their time watching the horizon. The waves have not been kind the first day.

We are not on stormy water but we are sailing with an angle that is not optimal in the sense that it tends to make you sick. The very first night, when we were still at anchor,
games were being played and the atmosphere was really good. 

The strange thing is; I always forget what seasickness feels like. And I am not the only one. As if our bodies collectively decided it is not worth remembering. Luckily, I am doing quite good but the hours I had stuff to do below deck I really wondered how I could have ever forgotten
the feeling so easily. Maybe by the time you receive news from us again, we all have forgotten these few days and will only share with you all the good stuff. And there has been good stuff! Not everything resolves around seasickness. Some are living their dream, finally crossing the
Atlantic Ocean.

Next to cleaning off all the Namibian desert dust, we have started setting our first sails. Some of the sails went up smoothly - with others we have been confronted with the consequences of our recent departure form shipyard... In the afternoon we had 10 minutes to spare, and opted to set Desmond (a sail unique to the Europa) within that time.
 

However, it suddenly became an hour-long operation. First Aap was accidentally unfurled, which then had to be furled again. Then the halyard for Desmond was still attached to the new horn, which had been lifted with it. Mystery lines kept appearing and so by the time all the lines were in place and Desmond was in the right position it was almost
dinner time. 

The effort was not in vain: we have been making distance with a good speed. Work is being done to make sure the jibs will soon be ready as well. 

Exactly 24 hours after departure we could turn the engines off - our sailing trip has really begun.