Swell continues to grow

The wind has settled to a balmy 15 knots, but the swell continues to grow. All occupants of the Europa must grow accustomed to this new sea state. Daily tasks that you might take for granted become monumental challenges: putting on your foulie pants before going on watch, eating your bowl of muesli in the morning, walking in a straight line down the corridor. The rain started in the early hours of the morning before dawn, and in addition to all the seawater on the main deck coming in from the freeing ports, the theme of the day is wet socks. But by lunchtime it had cleared up. We finished our 140-mile day with a rare glimpse of the sunset, a treat for the evening watch. As the low creeps up behind us, the wind becomes indecisive for parts of the day, so the sailing watch is busy with braces and sheets.