On my second Atlantic crossing, we had every kind of weather, although mostly not very much wind at all. We had chosen a route that should have let us pick up the trade winds but in fact left us wallowing in not very much wind at all a lot of the time, or dodging enormous line squalls that threatened very big winds and a lot of rain.

Squalls sometimes produce spectacular sunrises though…

An Atlantic crossing is such an achievement, regardless of what size boat you sail it in. It’s usually at least two weeks of being confined to not very many square metres with other people - typically you like them a lot at the beginning of the voyage and - for better or for worse - know them really well at the end of it. It will make or break a friendship or a relationship if you’re not ready for the impact of such close proximity and no choice about when and where you share your space with others.

I love the night watches. I am much more introverted than most people assume and I really enjoy the beautiful solitude of those lonely, long, dark hours. The sun rising at the end of your watch is something incredibly special. It doesn’t matter how wild the night was - there is something unspeakably wonderful about that small orb of fire pushing its way up above the horizon - every morning without fail.

Oil on canvas, 20cm square, framed in a 2.5cm wide frame made of solid wood, painted white. The painting is varnished and ready to hang on your wall.

£195