It emerges ...

After the long dark night of the soul, we have emerged into the sunlit uplands at 19 degrees C and a slow swell with a lower wind. We have the door of our cabin open onto the balcony and the sun is shining. We've just completed an energetic walk of over two miles around the Promenade Deck, knocking over grannies as we powered along. 

The feeling of relief after stormy weather and not feeling well is huge. I've finally got my wife back and she no longer looks like a damp puddle! We both feel invigorated and ready to party ... which is a good job, because it's a Celebration Night tonight. Black tie and fancy frock obligatory. We shall, of course, rise to the occasion.

In terms of the actual voyage, so far we've done 460 nautical miles since midday yesterday at an average speed of 19.2 knots. We're 153 nautical miles off Porto Santo - roughly equidistant from Casablanca. Tomorrow will be 22 decrees C in Tenerife which is a good job, as we are going whale watching. From one bouncy boat to another!

The Captain informs us that sailors used to get tattoos to show their range of travel: we can have for example, three swallows - one for each 5,000 nautical miles, an anchor for crossing the equator and a full-rigged ship for rounding the Horn. We have yet to decide where the tattoos will be applied but expect for them to make quite a stir when we reveal them. 

Last night we met the Wedding Planner, Tracy. She's a delight and will be taking part in the Renewal of Vows (25 years on) ceremony on board on the 24th January. She's volunteered to be our official photographer and is getting our ceremony leaflet compiled and printed.

Our room is looking well lived in now and we are well settled. It's roomy, comfortable and well appointed, on Deck 10 in the mid-aft of the ship on the starboard side. All in all, we're becoming used to a very interesting range of experiences, contexts and speakers on board and looking forward to all our trips on shore in the near future. This afternoon we're hearing a travelogue speaker about Cape Verde and then part 2 of a very good photography lecture later on.