I’m so privileged to be one of the 10. (Unedited photo Mike Edgecombe.)

This represents a truly momentous event in British ornithological history. I was left genuinely speechless as bird after bird passed by, in singles, doubles, trebles… At one time 9 birds swooped over the slick off the stern while 2 more birds joined them via the bow.

However, on the last evening we witnessed an unprecedented movement of 84 birds passing close by the yacht with the movement still in full flow as dusk became night.

We set off by yacht in 5 meter seas and had our butts kicked for the first two days. Last year we found a few Madeirans taking the national tally to 6 birds. This year they were quite easily found with up to 3 at a time.