In the Atlantic Alessandro saw and or simply ‘heard’ the breathing of whales  very close to his boat . Once in the Indian Ocean the birds had taken over the cetaceans, especially the majestic albatrosses. Some of them even accompagnied him for a few days gliding over his boat. But for the last week , since the big depression there have been no birds in sight. However this morning ..... but let Alessandro relate his wonderful encounter:

"This morning I had a huge emotion: stroking dolphins ! A group of about a dozen dolphins came to meet me. I stretched myself out on the bowsprit. I let my hand in the water and one after the other they came by to be stroked. Nothing like had happened to me before . The ‘ greediest ’ of cuddles seemed to be the chief of the group, the only one to have a white spot on its nose. They stayed for half an hour. They looked in ecstasy before the boat and they fought for the place under the bowsprit. They jumped and spashed down on their flanks: spectacular! Since my childhood there has always been a mutual feeling between animals and me; however I had never experienced such a thing. The batteries on board are low because the lack of sun and of quartering wind.  But I did get a good dose of energy with these cheerful friends from the sea that are the dolphins. It’s hard to describe such emotions’.