From Midshipman Nastya

Dear readers! Since Mum is writing an urgent article about the heroic Metelitsa polar team and doesn’t have time for a post, this burden has fallen on my fragile shoulders)). Midshipman Nastya here. The latest news of the day: we have a fair wind blowing at 15 to 20 knots, and the sun is even shining! This morning Dad and I put the second reef in the mainsail; we’re making 6 knots and getting ever closer to Australia. The entire female contingent is already dreaming of land and forests. The last two days have been a bit of a respite. Everything is very calm, with no huge waves; we can wash a couple of T-shirts, air and dry out the yacht, and surprise everyone with fresh bread :). Galley duty rotates among us, and right now it’s Lada’s turn (anything to avoid doing lessons))). Everyone is eagerly awaiting the pumpkin soup! And nothing has broken today so far, which means it’s been a good day. The watermaker is working, we have plenty of electricity, and we’re sailing like a proper sailing vessel, utterly unaware that an engine even exists—something completely unnecessary out in the Ocean! We won’t have to tow a barge full of spare parts behind us for repairs :) Yesterday our shore team sent us your comments. Thank you—out here, so far from civilisation, we feel that you are with us! I really love those moments when the cry of “morning mail” or “evening mail” brings us all together in the wheelhouse, and we listen to your messages. By the way, positivity boosts morale—it’s been proven!))