As darkness falls the cockpit is lit by the soft glow of the instruments. We can’t really see any small unlit hazards in the water ahead of us like fishing buoys so just have to rely on the chances of hitting one being pretty slim. Larger targets that show up on radar can be more easily avoided, especially vessels transmitting their position and course information via AIS that shows up on our screen. We are also transmitting ours so will hopefully show up on their screens too.

I’ve got the first watch from 10 till midnight so as Jose sleeps down below I get to enjoy dusk slipping away to the west and the stars coming out above me. Being at sea on a calm night like this is a magical experience!