Day 3 on the Amistad heading towards merry old England, as many of the fellow American crew and students have been calling it. Today we learnt more about dead reckoning and more on how sails work. I had the longest night of sleep I’ve had in a while last night so I’m energized for the day ahead. We’ve been traveling fast and surprisingly are one tenth of the way there already!
 

Apparently we had recently been heading towards the Graveyard of the Atlantic Ocean, the area around Sable Island. It definitely felt that way while looking up the boat and towards the horizon where there was a damp misty fog. As you concentrate on looking out, you begin to think you see things. There are eerie silhouettes that you hallucinate as you expect to see something…maybe that’s just me, but it was quite spooky. Last night on watch I heard a noise and thought I saw a flying fish coming on board, it was actually a bird. I was still surprised to see it and hadn’t really thought of birds at sea before. Yesterday through the fog we saw a couple of whales, a sight I’ve never seen; its all pretty cool. 
 
Today the weather turned; I was surprised with how warm it was and how clear the skies were. It’s the perfect sailing day and even though it’s all very rocky and a lunch of tomato soup was a challenge, it’s a lot of fun. The splash of seawater in the face as you come out of the foscle after a long cozy night really wakes you up!
 
Tomorrow I have to present a book review on the Interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano. I still have a couple of chapters to go but of what I’ve read, it’s been really interesting. As I’ve learnt more about the sea, the references he makes to terminology hasn’t completely been an alien language, which it would have been about a month ago. I’ve read a lot about slavery recently but to hear an African voice speaking of both his life in Africa and his life in England and further, from that time period is fascinating. I can’t wait to read more.
 
Anyway me mateys, must dash, duties to do.

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