Not much to report from the high seas today, except for a rather disturbing sight. Our AIS (Automatic Identification System) continues to pick up a significant number of fishing vessels, most likely Korean or Chinese, with miles of long lines trailing behind them. It's a disheartening reminder of the ongoing plundering of the oceans. These factory operations, processing fish directly at sea, further exacerbate the problem.
I've addressed this issue in previous blogs, and it's a tragedy that often goes unnoticed by the public. After all, how many people witness this destruction firsthand? Existing international regulations seem utterly unenforced, leaving these vessels free to pillage the seas with impunity.
On a lighter note, from a yacht delivery standpoint, things are going well! We're making excellent time in peaceful conditions, with an apparent wind of 11-15 knots, slightly aft of the beam. It's been a bit too windy to test out the gennaker yet, and we've had near-constant cloud cover since leaving Cape Verde.
Hurricane Beryl has certainly kept us on edge. Seeing it intensify into a Category 5 storm overnight was shocking. Having previously visited some of the islands in its path, I can only imagine the devastation left behind.
For anyone concerned about our position, rest assured we have a solid plan in place, as discussed yesterday. Additionally, let me offer some peace of mind – I have over 200,000 nautical miles of experience under my belt, and a very strong self survival instinct!
