14:49.78N 48:14.95W

Over two weeks now and we are still managing magnificently to keep up traditions.  Breakfast this morning was a semi-fry up, bacon, scrambled eggs and bubble and squeak.  We still have fresh potatoes, eggs, onions lemons and 3 large cabbages so in desperation I suggested bubble and squeak.  Went down a treat as Ian is an expert with the frying pan.  I’m now baking a cake for afternoon tea and will fill it with homemade jam (brought with us, I’m not that good), and whipped cream – (longlife).  We didn’t catch a fish yesterday so Tony opened a tin of ham and we had egg and sortofchips with it.  Pretty good too. 

We are a bit food focused at the moment as we yet again have to use the engine and the sailing isn’t challenging us.  We are in the middle of a hole and the great Atlantic is so calm at times there are no waves, only ripples.  Tony and Ian had a swim this morning and from above they looked like a David Hockney painting. 

We spotted our first vessel in almost two weeks today, a great massive cargo vessel but it didn’t show on our AIS.  We’re pretty sure it’s still operating but guess we’ll know for sure when we get closer to St Lucia. 

The last of the diesel in the cans has gone into the tank so we’re motoring to try and get out of the hole as soon as we can.  The wind usually rises in the evenings so we’re trying to motor when we have to and sail as much as we can.  Our weather report shows not much change for the next 48 hours, with maybe a tad more wind in three days time.  That’s all we need, a tad. 

Some technical terms explained:

“Up the chuff” – a following wind

“A b*ggers muddle” – a big pile of rope or similar but this is a very useful term and covers many situations

“The pointy end “– Front of the boat

“Blunt end” – Yes, the back of the boat

“B.A.” – used in the log when nothing has happened

“Well bliddy sort it out then” – Jane has noticed a B*ggers muddle and retreats to the blunt end to sulk and rectify the situation.

Photo: Tony making a splash.