Aqualuna half way there!

Around the world with the Aqualunies
Jonathan & Gabrielle Lyne
Mon 3 Dec 2007 12:55
3rd December, '07

We are now reaching and still flying. Saw a yacht on radar about 17 miles to
our port during the night. Jonathan has followed the tradition of his
family and had to go to the top of the mast (23 metres up)exactly mid Atlantic, to change
the light bulb for our tri-colour light as our port and starboard bow ones are
playing up again, the starboard one has been soaked in the past ans the fitting
has corroded. Anyway he was hoisted up, fairly easy with an electric winch, and had a
secound saftey line. We were already reaching so the yacht was at a fairly
steady angle; unfortunately just as he was half way we were hit by a rogue
wave and lurched. J flew out from mast but was able to prevent himself
slamming back against it (a heart in mouth moment). He got to the top, had a
look at our VHF aerial( as we are unable to get anybody to hear us on it) but
it appeared intact, looked around for other yachts, nothing seen, then
gently lowered back down again.

The rack of lamb, cauliflower cheese and new potatoes went down well last
night. Tonight we are having chicken tagine, couscous and roasted
vegetables.

Still very cloudy, grey clouds, with a good SSE wind blowing at about 16
knots. We covered 196 miles in the last 24 hours, but the 200 still eludes us.
It is becoming much warmer, sleeping with just a sheet on now. We haven't
changed ships time yet from Canaries time (GMT) as we have to send in our
position at noon every day for Cowes to monitor where we are compared with
other yachts. We also have to send in engine time used, but we seem to have been
lucky compared to other yachts as we have only used 43 mins engine time on our
first day compared to some yachts having used several hours. Must remember we
are only half way there so anything can happen over the next week; not sure how
we sneaked ahead of our class so easily as we were not one of the first yachts
over the start line, deciding to keep up wind and clear of everybody, and then later
all the trouble with the assymetric blowing and the fishing barrel acting as a drogue
overnight.

We are just experimenting with our new smoker to smoke some Dorado and Tuna.

Love from all the Aqualunies.