Die Tage kommen und gehen. Wie Wellen, aus Nord-Ost umspielen sie das Boot für eine Sekunde, scheinen es ablenken zu wollen von seinem Kurs, ein minütiges, sich endlos wiederholendes Spiel, Natur gegen Schiff. Routinen pflegen sich ein, ritualisiert, fast monoton arbeitet die Crew Hand in Hand. 19-22,22-1, 1-4 und 4-7 Uhr. Der Kapitän immer standby….

Eingespielt wie Musiknoten: Jacke, Stirnlampe auf rot, Logbuch Eintrag zum Verständnis der Situation, Harness und Lifejacket,…… danach Stille.

Heute ist vieles anders. Betriebsamkeiten allenthalben. Maniküre/Pediküre, neue Bärte und Frisuren für Tim, Torsten und André. Bilgen reinigen, Bestandsaufnahme Kühlschrank, faules Zeug weg, neues Bettzeug rein, frische Handtücher. Fast Frühjahrsputz auf der Ambra die tapfer ihre Bahnen zieht. André macht frisches Brot, Hoffnung auf Schönes. Immer weiter in den Westen bei 20 kn, Kurs 265 Grad. Etmal 180sm!

Ambra Food Blog @thomashighfield ! Via 📡: Yesterday we celebrated our „midway day“ as we passed the 1.500 nm to go. So, we came out with special dishes to celebrate this special day! Accordingly as breakfast we served the crew original German christmas „Stollen“ with marzipane. A nice sweet start into another sunny day. The next highlight for this „peak celebration day“ was a freshly made Kaiserschmarrn (a traditional sweet pancake dish from Austria) with roasted Almond slices, powder sugar and mashed apples for lunch. After these nice sweet treats, for dinner we cooked pan seared steaks with a porcini mushroom sauce and as side dishes mashed potatos blended with olive oil, minced garlic and lemon zest, together with roasted eggplants spiced up with anchovies. The dinner was rounded up with a glass of the delicious red Marques de Riscal.

Note: During the evening of Sunday 27 November, Grand Soleil 54 Take Off suffered structural failure to their mast, resulting in its loss, and a crew member was injured as a result. JRCC Cabo Verde and Rally Control were informed and assistance from fellow ARC yacht Aphrodite 1 was provided. A number of other yachts in the area were also made aware of the situation, being on standby if needed. Following an assessment by a doctor, the injured crew member and two others were transferred from Take Off to US NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown. Take Off will continue their passage westwards to Saint Lucia under engine, with fellow yachts offering fuel as needed to the dismasted vessel.

Together we are strong!