We discussed today if having more money to buy upgrades and fixes for Itchy Foot would make us happier, if for example, if money wasn’t a significant consideration would we be more content? Jon’s opinion was no, more money wouldn’t really make cruising more fun. Once you have enough that you aren’t constantly stressed about money then extra doesn’t make you happier.

People who seem happiest are those who best adapt to their current situation, not those who have the most.

Maybe the same is true of wind. Like yesterday, we don’t have much wind and not nearly as much as we would like. But rather than get too worried about it we dropped the sails and went for a swim in the big blue.

Truth be told it wasn’t ideal conditions for a mid-ocean swim either, the chop was a little too high and the swell a little too big. But we were careful, stopping the boat in the water, trailing some lines behind us to hold onto and always having an adult or two onboard the whole time. It was glorious, the water was warm and perfectly clear and everyone felt a lot better for a dip and a swim on this otherwise hot and windless day.

If you ever get the chance to go swimming in the middle of the ocean, do it. There is something humbling about knowing you are so far out of your depth, so far from land. The ocean is so deep here they don’t even bother to put in on the charts I have. It must be 3 miles deep. And we are about 700 miles from the nearest land. As well as being refreshing and a way to wash away the heat, it also makes you feel mortal and therefore alive.

And another observation from a mid-ocean swim? Itchy Foot is dirty! You can tell we’ve been on the same tack for the last few weeks as the entire starboard side is covered in algae! Also the stern is completely covered in barnacles! Lots of cleaning work to be done when we get to the Marquesas.

What else? Teo did some great reading today in boat school. Mia and Teo went through his toy cupboard today. Tina made lovely olive bread, which we dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar for an afternoon snack. Jon decided that he needed cake, so made a batch of brownies. Jon and Tina fixed the spinnaker car which broke yesterday, so we can pole out the headsail again. And we finished the day, as the sun was setting by watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens up on deck.

We sailed half the distance we normally do, but it was a good day.