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Dec 17, 2006: Friendly guests -­ unexpected danger

23°C / 73°F

Position:28° 32′ 11″ N-15° 43′ 17″ W

Wind: 10km/h

The miracle of photovoltaic cells -­ approaching Lanzarote -­ friendly guests -­ unexpected danger: polluted sea - good atmosphere on board.

Sunshine all day long, 23 °C, East wind (B.  2), waves of up to one yard. Our solar panels are harvesting enough solar energy for the propulsion of the 11-ton-boat, for charging the batteries for the night, for all the electrical appliances we use ­ in December, at this latitude. Solar cells made out of silicon, sand, no noise, no pollution, not wearing out. It's stunning.

The animals like the boat too: Dolphins belong to our regular visitors. This morning, about twenty of them, among them several calves, accompanied us for more than half an hour, dancing around the boat, diving curiously in the stern area to explore the slowly and silently turning carbon propellers. They look at us. We hear their breathing and sometimes even their calls. Also, a sea turtle was not at all afraid of the "sun21". It continued to paddle peacefully on the surface of the sea when we approached it, ­ sticking out its head and puffing from time to time.

Fisher net debris floats frequently in the sea. During two nights, one of our motors was blocked by pieces of ropes.  Fortunately, Mark likes to dive. He removes the strings and ropes in the morning from the propellers.

The atmosphere among us could not be better. We are taking turns in the every day duties in a natural way, ­ without having to plan or discuss them. Tomorrow, we will arrive in Lanzarote.

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