The Atlantic Ocean has a beautiful deep blue color. It is also devoid of a number of things: very little garbage seen floating by compared to the Med or Pacific, it is also devoid of other vessels as we haven’t spotted any other ships, no ARC members, container ships, or other cargo ships. A lonely ocean. Wild life seems almost non existent, a few birds circling now and then, but other than the morning ritual of removing flying fish from the deck, nothing else. No other whales, dolphins, tuna etc etc to be seen.

We took on a lot of water that filled the aft end of the boat almost to the floor boards (sole). We must have removed at least 8 full buckets of salt water. Very concerning! Everything had to be removed wiped down and dried before replacing. It took almost 4 hours and a few things still need to be fully dried and put away.

Sea cock? Through Hulls? Broken hoses? Nope. The reason for all of this water was a cover coming off the hydraulic arm on the swim platform. When we surfed down waves, the sea level rose each time on the transom causing water ingress in the slot.

Plenty of duck tape later we are hoping it has now been resolved, but sea water likes to be pernicious so we need to constantly monitor it.

Still very rolly. Not a comfortable crossing for some of the crew