THE REVELERS Really quite extraordinary. Yesterday, all day, hardly a boat of any description in sight - all quiet - still, calm surface. And then, as the sun hit the horizon, the revelers! One by one they come out of nowhere and the party begins. The tankers of immense size, the brilliantly lit cruise ships, the motor-yachts, the sailboats...there we were again, crisscrossing each other's path, vying for position, bargaining on the VHF for priority. At one point, Shearwater was one in a line of 4 huge vessels, all abreast and all going the same way. Oh oh, one tanker down for the count - drifting - engine broken. A squall appeared at midnight, the three cruise ships dash off in different directions, can't be rained on. But they return. And then, as before, dawn...I ascend the companionway steps...and...they are gone! Once again, leaving nothing but a still, calm, empty ocean. Where on earth do they all go? And why do they hate the light?



I expect to arrive tomorrow in the morning. All systems aboard Shearwater are functioning well...look greatly forward to seeing you all. Last full day on the sea today...

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