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It’s moments like this that make sailing so great. Wind power pushing you through the water, a gentle rock of the boat and dolphins playing around the boat. Ocean crossing is a funny thing, one minute you might feel a bit trapped out at sea and by the distance/days left to go and the next you’re absolutely buzzing your nut off and pumped on your day. Somewhere in the Gulf Stream on Maru Noa with Jasper, Georgie and Tino. by @mora.ocean

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12 days ago

Tonks has a mast again! ⛵️

25 days after Sam, Kelda & Alessa arrived in Horta under jury rig, this morning we stepped their new mast — and it couldn’t have gone more smoothly.

While they were still making their way to safety after the dismasting, Jasper & I spotted a mast lying on top of a container in the boatyard here. It looked about the right length… somehow, it turned out to be exactly what they needed. We tracked down the owner and, luckily, they were happy to sell it.

Since then, everything has seemed to fall into place. The sailing community truly rose to the occasion — not only through the GoFundMe, but through countless acts of kindness. A small army helped move the mast, one boat donated an old sail, another sailor carried back a bag of chandlery supplies from the UK… the list goes on.

It’s been amazing to watch these guys recover from such a stressful situation and come out the other side smiling. There’s been a lot of uncertainty along the way, but by trusting the process, somehow it’s all working out.

There’s still plenty to do before Tonks is ready to sail again, but today feels like a huge milestone.

Massive credit to Sam & Kelda’s ingenuity, resilience and experience.

Congrats guys 💛 xx

#dismasting #sailing #boatlife
@sam.coltman @keldasmith taken in Horta, Faial, Açores by @mora.ocean

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a month ago

I had a great day out on the water yesterday with @gosharkazores

We waited patiently all day. A minke whale passed close by the boat, we spent a while surrounded by an enormous pod of dolphins, and eventually slipped into the water with this blue shark.

It was my first time seeing a blue, and it felt very different from any of the other sharks I’ve spent time with before. This one seemed shy and gently curious. Definitely the most elegant shark I’ve met so far.

I was sad to see a wound around its body and gills, likely caused by fishing gear—a reminder of how much these animals contend with.

It’s still early in the season here, so I feel super lucky to have had this short encounter! I liked something our guide Mariana said: “In the ocean, everything is possible, but nothing is guaranteed.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve spent a day like this—waiting, watching, and not knowing what might appear next. It was also fun to nerd out with a boat full of marine biologists 💙 taken in Faial Azores by @mora.ocean

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a month ago

I’m currently on delivery from Yokohama to the Aleutian Islands, and today we spotted something absolutely heartbreaking at sea. We’re approximately 300nm east of Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands, an area that is incredibly rich in wildlife. No one onboard has ever seen so many whales and birds on passage before, we’re all constantly blown away by the rich ocean we’re sailing through. We are regularly sailing through pods of sperm whales, sighting humpbacks, albatross, puffins, guillemots and even seals this far offshore.

The Yushin Maru is part of Japans whaling fleet, operating in the remote North Pacific and southern ocean. Heartbreaking to see this in action. What can we do to stop them from killing whales? by @mora.ocean

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a month ago

Yesterdays snorkel ft. some gorgeous rays

I’m really appreciating the ease of dives from shore here and how much life there is to explore. taken in Horta, Faial, Portugal by @mora.ocean

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a month ago

You never know what a passage at sea will throw at you, but we certainly didn't expect ours to end having been dismasted, recovering from the fear of losing everything we have.
I'm proud of how all 3 of us onboard acted throughout and that we kept each other safe and as happy as could be expected in the last miles and low pressure systems that the North Atlantic was testing us with.
The most important thing for now is that we are safe, no one was hurt during the ordeal and we have made it to Horta in Faial possibly not in one piece, but unbroken as a team.
One step at a time! taken in Horta, Faial, Portugal by @mora.ocean

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2 months ago

On Monday morning I got a call from my friend Sam to say they’d been dismasted in heavy weather 350nm from the Azores.

He told me they had lost their mast, sails and rigging, and that their engine also wasn’t functioning due to a broken water pump. He was very shaken and I did my best not to cry on the phone to him whilst I went and found Jasper and we tried to help coordinate with the Portuguese MRCC and other vessels in the area.

Sam & Kelda are some of the most resourceful and skilled people we know and they now making their way to safety under jury rig. Thankfully all are well onboard and they still have some food and water supplies after an already long 25 day passage. They are hoping to be ashore here in Horta in a few days time where we will greet them with pastries and cold beers!

Rebuilding the rig on a remote island in the middle of the Atlantic is not going to be cheap, so we’ve set up a gofundme to help cover some of the costs and get them back on their feet. The link is in our bio and our stories, please have a look and help out if you’re able to! 😊

#sailing #offshoresailing by @mora.ocean

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2 months ago

On Monday morning our friends onboard SV Tonks were dismasted 350nm from the Azores, after sailing 2200 miles and 25 days out from St. Martin. They’ve lost their mast, sails and rigging, and are making their way to safety under jury rig. A damaged engine means that they are making slow progress, but they’re all well onboard and hoping to be ashore in a few days time.

Rebuilding the rig on a remote island in the middle of the Atlantic is not going to be cheap, so we’ve set up a gofundme to help cover some of the costs and get them back on their feet. Sam and Kelda are two of the most resourceful and skilled people we know, but this is a big project and they deserve all the help they can get. The link is in our bio and our stories, please have a look and help out if you’re able to.

#sailing #offshoresailing taken in Horta, Faial, Portugal by @mora.ocean

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2 months ago

We’ve been in the Azores a week now and today we went for our first snorkel! 🐠 I have been looking forwards to this for such a long time and it is making all the hard work to get here worth it. It’s like coming back to a whole part of myself that has been missing, consumed by boatyards and projects and stress. This island is amazing and so so beautiful above and below the surface. Feeling very grateful to be here and excited to learn more about these incredible waters.

#freedive #snorkel #azores taken in Horta, Faial, Portugal by @mora.ocean

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2 months ago

We’ve arrived in Horta! 2100nm sailed in 13days 9hours, from Newport RI. ⛵️ This crossing wouldn’t have been half as fun without the absolute legend that is our friend James. Always cheerful, maker of endless cups of tea, a hero washing the dishes and never once complained about his wet bunk. Hard as nails & the biggest of hearts, we love him and will miss him terribly.
Safe travels back to the UK ✈️ @jchapman_photography ❤️

#atlanticcrossing #sailing by @mora.ocean

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2 months ago

I had the pleasure of sunrise watch today 3-6am.
Maru Noa is still tanking along at 8.5kts, like an absolute champion. We’re expecting things to mellow out a bit later on today, which will be nice for our comfort levels down below. Although I think we will probably be remaining quite soggy now until we reach the Azores with no good way to wash or dry anything.

But for this watch I didn’t think about any of that, I just sat on deck, and enjoyed watching the raw power of the ocean, a beautiful sunrise + had a great cuppa tea.

Under 500 miles to go until we reach Horta!

#notrendingaudio #justwind by @mora.ocean

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2 months ago

It’s been a wet and windy 36hrs, bashing to windward in 20+kts. Looks like this is us until sometime tomorrow…. I think we’re all ready for it to chill out a bit now.
Under 600miles now to the Azores!

#oceansailing #sailing by @mora.ocean

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2 months ago