Position           09:44.95S 135:04.45W

Date                1200 (Central American Time) Tuesday 18 March 2014

Distance run - 168nm over the ground, 156nm through the water

                        Distance (OG) covered from start 2,741nm

                        Distance to destination 232nm

                        Original distance to Marquesas (straight line) 2,962nm

Each of our longer passages seems to have a blog entry with this title, and not surprisingly when you can almost smell the end.  The wind definitely requires the pole if not the cruising chute.  We are faced with two options, keep the pole out and use some diesel to get us into Hiva Oa with a bit of luck in daylight on the 19^th  or use the cruising chute and continue to flog along in ever lightening wind and probably arrive in the dark.  We have opted for the result that will give us some arrival photographs.

I have commented before on how our arrivals seem to be like babies, in the middle of the night but without the stork and no gooseberry bushes.  St Lucia, after the Atlantic crossing, the Galapagos coming from Panama and many others.  We could of course slow down and arrive a day later but the Mate says that she has run out of ideas for food; and that seems to be a convincing argument.

On the food front last night we broke into a virgin locker of supplies and excavated a Fray Bentos steak and kidney pie.  Real “nursery food”.  With mash and baked beans – do not knock it until you have tried it.  I am reminded by she who provides that there were bought in Asda for £1 each.  Prior forethought and planning on this one.