There is little to no wind so I help the deckhands cast some slack onto the bunt lines over the sails as preparation for any upcoming favorable winds. The water is glassy and smooth and from up on the mast, I could see the well defined shadow of Europa on the waters surface.

After several days sailing in thick morning fog and afternoon rains, the Europa welcomed a fun filled excursion in the Guernsey Island Sun. After fourteen days on the ship, we welcomed that chance to stretch our legs on ground that wasn’t constantly moving sideways.

The winds have been so strong since we embarked from Horta that I was beginning to think that I would never have the chance to see Europa from the skies. I woke up this morning after a few games of late night poker with the Voyage Crew to a cool grey sky with an eerily calm sea.

The Australian man sits in the sun for a few hours reading a book. The Swedish man seems disappointed that he cannot shake my hand because of COVID. I confuse the German woman by speaking too fast in English. I quietly admire the knowledge and discomfort of speaking a language that it not your native tongue.