Polynesia–Vladivostok. On Our First Days in the Ocean and the Tragedy of the Present

Polynesia–Vladivostok. On Our First Days in the Ocean and the Tragedy of the Present Sailing with a warm following trade wind is nothing like the Roaring Forties or battling head-on into the wind. Even in high seas, by the second day the seasick members of the crew were well enough to watch films and tuck into bananas. The latter need rescuing: right on cue, the seven-kilogram bunch ripened all at once, so banana smoothies have been a constant fixture aboard the yacht. We covered 130 nautical miles in the first 24 hours and 140 in the second. We changed the bedding after a bucketful of salt water poured onto it through the porthole, then rinsed the mattress with fresh water and dried it. And the captain spent a day and a half tinkering with the watermaker. After a major overhaul near shore, it had worked perfectly, but once we put to sea it began playing up. A gasket started leaking, and the water comes through only intermittently. We even considered turning back, but thank Neptune, we’re carrying on. We put to sea with heavy hearts. I’ve barely slept all week. I stand the night watch (I’m awake anyway). And I’m trying to pull myself out of the stress with positive affirmations and breathing exercises. Inhale for a count of two, exhale for four. Focus on the sensations in the body. By sheer force of will. May goodness envelop the planet, especially its bleeding wounds. Because we have to live. The situation in brief: we are horrified. We stand only for peace! I will write about this once. If unpleasant truths offend you, you’d better not read on. Some people who don’t follow my personal Facebook page are calling on me to express my opinion. Those who do follow it sometimes say: But you’re a journalist! How can you be so naïve and believe fakes? — It is precisely because I’m a journalist that I know how to work with different sources of information, and I know a great deal about media wars. I am 46 years old; I graduated from school with a medal, have two honours diplomas and two higher-education degrees, one of them a university degree in journalism, plus a wealth of life experience. Do you think I have enough intelligence to analyse facts sensibly? Especially considering that for the past eight years I have remained outside the opposing sides’ information bubbles, while having the opportunity to immerse myself in each one. Andrey’s analytical abilities are also rated very highly by those who know him. Now for the observations and conclusions. A front line has long divided the commenters. One side unfollows en masse and sends curses after our post about the meeting we held at Artek; the other side unfollows en masse and sends curses after the post, “The news makes it impossible to do anything. Let there be peace.” Both these fronts have armies offline as well. Does that mean nobody wants peace? Because for peace to exist, we must sow goodness. The captain says: Don’t write it. It could have consequences. There’ll be a brawl in the comments, and you’ll suffer all over again. The people you defend will curse you for not defending them enough. The people you love will do the same. Because over the past eight years, media wars have made us enemies. They have defeated reason on all sides of the conflict by a score of 100–0. The media have won. And we help them win with every aggressive word. With every fake we take on faith. Most of us can defeat the war inside our own heads. Stop this madness. Study different sources of information, look for independent ones, don’t turn yourselves into a herd that can be controlled. Talk to eyewitnesses. Watch the film Wag the Dog, for goodness’ sake. Hatred divides us; it is easier to shoot someone you hate. Let us multiply love. Please, before commenting, think: what will there be more of after your comment—evil or good? May this nightmare end. And every one of us can influence that. Help the person beside you. Give love and support. Remain human. Preserve the Human Being within you. Let us bring peace back. I would like to write more, but I can’t. Our blog will be an island of calm in a shaken world. Here you will find proof that everything can be all right. Because there is still a world of fresh wind, freedom, ocean waves, and no hostility. There are good, bright people too. And we believe that good people are the majority. This will be something to hold on to in moments of despair. The darkness will recede. We will live. Thank you to everyone who is with us. We are grateful for your support of the expedition via PayPal and YooMoney. Our location can once again be viewed under the Route tab. Lady Mary’s track from the MVS Telecom RockSTAR Iridium 360 tracker is displayed there. Transmitted by satellite communications on our third day in the ocean, coordinates: 14°26′ S, 153°29′ W. Note the meridian! It was on this very meridian, three years and three months ago, that the fateful phrase was uttered which turned our circumnavigation into an expedition: So, 1,200 miles due south, and we’re at the Maria Theresa Reef!