26th Nov 5th day

The weather is cloudy and the visibility no more than 5nmiles.We decided to keep our course close to the rhump line around 255 to 260 degrees taking the chances of meeting variable weather. At 12:00 (entering the 5th day) we can see a biger yacht flying her spinnaker without a mainsail and going about 60 degrees southern than us, that's normal with his bare spinnaker to keep his wind dead aft especially without the mainsail.

The wind is 13,5kt and we average 7kt sog.

Today we decided to listen classic music and to make some cleaning jobs also with not much rolling we planned to have hot showers .I had a really good sleep this night from 02:30 to 0:6:30 I feel great and the all of the crew is in good spirits. George is working on his patent/repairing the rail and wagon for the spinnaker pole and we are confident we will succeed.

Here below you will read the ARC race news received from the ARC Coordination Center midday:

QUOTE

• UPDATES ON BOATS WITH PROBLEMS *
  70 Auliana II. Was abandoned on 23/11. Salvage currently underway with tug from
  Tenerife. Crew now flown home.
• 
  90 La Chimare. Returning to Gran Canaria due to rig problems. ETA during 26/11
• 
  118 Seeadler. Diverting to Cape Verdes due to injured crew member. Not critical
  and do not require any assistance at present.

 124 Tranquilizer. Have resumed course for St.Lucia and are not diverting to Cape Verdes.
 150 Su An. Departed Las Palmas on 23/11

• 151 Erasmos I . Diverted to Cape Verdes due to rudder problems.
   
• 203 Alba. Has diverted to Tenerife due to rig problems. ETA early on 26/11

 223 Himinglaeva. Departed Las Palmas on 23/11
* YACHTS WHICH HAVE NOT REPORTED IN TO RALLY CONTROL *
All yachts are requested to try contacting these yachts via VHF in case of communications
problems preventing a report being sent.
ID,Name,Last Pos,,valid at
106,Pelican,no report,,
170,Only You,N26°26,W17°32,23/11/2009 12:00
210,Le Livernois,no report,,

• * UPDATE ON POSSIBLE MAYDAY FROM YACHT RAPANZEL *
  Two yachts reported hearing the radio conversation, but as a weak transmission.
  No position was given and no EPIRB alert was issued. MRCC Tenerife dispatched an
   aircraft to search the area, but no further reports of distress received.
  UNQUOTE

We wish to all yachts safe sailing and best to those wgho have trouble.