Almost…

19 April 2024

Almost…

As we sail towards the Galapagos Islands, our journey has been marked by remarkable progress in the first three days. With winds consistently blowing at 3-4 Beaufort, shifting from southwest to south-southeast, we’ve swiftly turned 500 nautical miles to go, into 200 miles left to sail. On the evening of the third day, the wind gradually faded, and the swell began to rise, causing our ship to roll more pronouncedly. We lowered all fore and aft sails and hoisted the grand forecourse to maintain our course.

Under a breathtaking sunset, we gracefully sailed into the night. Our pace leisurely but our excitement is growing as we approach the famed Galapagos Islands. Everyone aboard eagerly anticipates our first encounters with the islands’ iconic wildlife. Until now, our route has kept us on the open ocean, with wildlife mostly concealed beneath the deep waters. Our sightings have included a sea turtle curiously surfacing, three pods of energetic dolphins, and various sea birds—Boobies, gulls, storm petrels, and terns.

Luckily, we have two camera operators equipped with drones onboard. When the dolphins appeared, they swiftly deployed a drone, capturing mesmerizing aerial footage of the playful pod. Witnessing these dolphins from a bird’s-eye view was an absolute delight, foreshadowing the wondrous encounters awaiting us amidst the Galapagos archipelago.