The nerves have settled a little, and I have finally accepted that I might be out here for up to five weeks. This was originally meant to be a two- or three-week leg, so a small food situation has begun to develop in the background. I will say this for the record: the next flying fish that lands on the deck is getting promoted directly from flying fish to frying fish.

Last night was a tough one. I was beat up and pretty bummed about missing Easter Island. That stop was supposed to be a milestone, some land, a reset, a chance to stretch my legs on something that did not roll. Instead I was out here with a compromised rig and no clear plan to stabilise it, and the idea of going up the mast in those conditions was not appealing. Sleep did not come easy. Every noise put me on edge, waiting for the sound no sailor ever wants to hear, the kind that means a shroud is letting go and the mast is on its way down. I made sure the cutaway tool was charged and parked by the companionway, just in case the day decided to go sideways quickly.

Eventually I must have drifted off, because in one of those moments you do not really question, I woke up knowing exactly what to do. I remembered there was already a solid length of Dyneema anchored to the mast for the storm sail. I detached the lower end, ran it through a block and tackle, and inside fifteen minutes I had a temporary stabiliser in place. Simple, strong, effective. Honestly, I am giving credit for that one to my mom. It felt very much like a tap on the shoulder, and she is as good a candidate as any for that kind of message. I also filmed my first short YouTube video explaining the fix while I was at it. It is rough, but it is done, and that counts.

From here the plan is simple. Two or three weeks of downwind sailing. If it stays anything like today, I will take it gladly. As my friend Ken Pope likes to say, you gotta be somewhere. Well, I am definitely somewhere. Spirits are back up, the boat is moving, the rig is holding, and now we just have to see whether I can stay sane by the end of this leg. See you soon.