FourSaltySeaDogs

All still going well aboard Parati and coping with an increase in wind today. Quite an eventful last 24 hours. At least two whales (not sure if more as they came close and went away frequently) swam alongside and around the boat yesterday morning for about half an hour, surfing with the swell. Not sure what type - around 10m long, long beaks, short dorsal fins, white bellies and long pectoral fins - Minke maybe; will have to check later. Nichola said it was worth crossing the Atlantic just for that experience alone! Also, we were very impressed with the dogs who smelt the whales a lone time before we were able to see them. Later, in the afternoon around 50 dolphins swam around the boat and under the bow for about 10 minutes; often up to six abreast and looking like synchronized swimmers! Finally, just before dusk we ran into a large area covered in seaweed, which unfortunately kept getting caught on the blade of our mechanical wind steering system and putting us off course. Consequently, we had to resort to modern technology and switch on the electronic autopilot!