Today it was a very quiet day, less wind 8 to 16 knots, we are  making an average speed of 7 knots. Our course is kept 255 degrees.

Some routine maintenance, checking the chafing, checking the auto pilot oil level, we had a couple of stoppages and we had to start the genset to charge our batteries. We had a lot of thinking how to repair the rail and wagon for the spinnaker pole and george sounds confident he is very close to a solution.....George's miracles ..perhaps.

Mostly is cloudy and we have met only one boat. We estimated around 60 feet over all, passed from our bow far enough so we couldn’t tell if he is an ARC yacht with course to Cape Verde islands. Most likely he was using the starborad tack to gain speed and then gybe later, nothing different from what we do. We tried to fish for a couple of hours but no luck, I think our mind is now only around the pole and the auto pilot that has gone off .

The sea has been steady for quiet a while but now the wind drops and the swell affects our mood. Too much rolling and squeaking that makes it very uncomfortable especially when you want to sleep.  Spirits are good though and we try to get some sleep whenever we get a chance. Breakfast and lunch we eat separately but dinner at the same time. Tonight a nice gigot (''katsikaki'') from the dry mountains of Gran Canary, roasted in the butcer's premises in Marcado Municipal and roasted potatoes (‘'patates fournou’’) with plenty of persil and garlic (we put it in the freezer last Saturday and today thawed it) the result? a ‘’Turkish’’ delight. Tomorrow the remains cut in slices for a nice sandwich with lots of mustard and the last leaves of fresh salad.

That’s it folks we will update you tomorrow. Now is time to play with the SSB radio get some mails and weather faxes.

S/Y ARMENISTIS

P.S. I will definitely, by the end of the voyage will write a short paper on cooking on board.