(December 2, 2017) My night watch started one hour early today at 1am when John was trying to communicate to another boat via a VHF radio. This sailboat was right behind of us getting closer. He wanted them to know it. He spoke to the other boat and they changed their course to pass astern of us. This sailboat is 1.5 times longer than our boat (22 meters = 70 feet), making 9-11 knots of speed.

We have strong winds (15-20 knots) and bigger waves (2-3 meters = 6-9 feet) today. For safer and more comfortable night sailing,

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(December 1, 2017) John woke me up for my night watch which starts at 2am. I went to bed at 8pm after a dinner of fresh grilled Mahi Mahi with a glass of wine and slept deeply for the last six hours. We are still sailing with only one sail on the pole due to weak wind. The ocean is calm and the boat runs steady, still making 3-4 knots. This comfort let me slept through the whole six hours, all in one shot.

Waking up and checking outside around 2am, I saw about a 90% full moon,

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(November 30, 2017) It’s pure luck! We caught a fish yesterday: about a 20 pound Mahi Mahi. Lost the first fish, but the second one that we got was even bigger. It is not a Yellowfin Tuna but we are thrilled. It seemed there were a school of Mahi Mahi but we didn’t want to catch more; freezer space is an issue. Fresh Sashimi for us and both Cats. We grilled some fish for dinner. This fish is so beautiful in the ocean in colors of Aqua Marine, Blue, Green, and Yellow. Once we brought it up on the boat,

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(November 29, 2017) Prior to sailing to a new location, I usually gather information on wind speed/direction, wave speed/direction, tide, sunrise/sunset, moonrise/moonset, current time at the new location, and etc.

Moon set is supposed to be around 3 AM today. As I like night watch under moonlit, I stayed outside listening to an audio book (“Principles” by Ray Dalio, I like this book a lot, and this is the second time I have listened to it). Unlike intense sunlight, moonlit makes me absorb learning as a sponge does with water. After moon set, I came down inside to write this blog.

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There is no friend as loyal as a book. — Ernest Hemingway

La Gomera Island is a small and very steep island. On the first day that we arrived here, I wanted to stay here as long as I can. Nature is all around and children play at the park in the evenings. Grandfathers are seating on the bench with friends talking, playing cards, or just watching waves on the beach. People do their own things peacefully. Many tourists from the cruise ships visit for a day. Some long-term tourists seem engaged in their own spiritual activities.

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(October 5 – 7, 2017) It took us two days (one day sailing and one day motoring) from Madeira Island to La Graciosa Island in the Canary Islands. Motoring is noisy and the diesel fumes are smelly. A Bright moon appeared sometimes which helped the nightly watches. A small bird traveled with us on the boat. John found two dragon flies and also got bitten by a black/yellow striped fly. Where were they from at sea? He also found a flying fish on the deck. (After arriving at a new place, I grilled the flying fish and gave it to Swat,

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