21.51.4 25.00.0W

We are settling into a routine now. The nights are long – over 12 hours - but the reward is to gaze in awe at the diamond-studded night skies. Watch A continue to show superior intellect in the nightly quizzes, with watches now known as “Alpha” and “Der”. All Alpha team contribute course although Richard is a little more equal than Claire and myself; I pretend not to hear the question in the wind. We are taking the “Southern Route”, a big loop South to the latitude of the Azores, in order to avoid a large high pressure sitting over the direct route. We have been gybing down this route although may have turned right before the butter was really melting and are now paying the price for being greedy with light winds which we expect to continue over the next few. This has been the cause of irritating slatting sails, squeaking of blocks and general rigging noise but at least the seas have gone down and, now with 12 to 15 knots the spinnaker has gone up and life is good. Flying fish buzz past and around 10 dolphins said hello this morning (Thursday). Crew have had their first dhobi, with Will re-creating Jonnie’s “Submariner’s Dhobi Dance” in the shower. It will take a many more of those to get rid of the Mahi Mahi smell now impregnating my sailing gloves.

All systems are go – Digby the watermaker is doing his stuff with no fuss, and Myrtle the hydrogenator keeps the batteries topped up with, we think, only a very small speed reduction. The engine and generator have not been called on which means cold water only – “definitely NOT what I signed up for” – can you guess the crewmember?

There have been no sibling fights yet, which encouragingly breaks a habit from when I used to race dinghys with my sister as a 10 year old. Charlie would still win. It is such  treat to have my Sis and nephew onboard, and a bunch of such good friends.

Jonnie Skip