Thursday - I’d love to report that we’re out on the blue Atlantic but … we’re still in Gibraltar.  It has taken 4 days to fit the self-steering gear and another day today working out how to get on and off the boat without using the bathing platform.  The whole thing looks very Heath Robinson-ish with lines and pulleys all over the place but hopefully it will steer a straight course without electricity or swearing or needing to be fed.  We’ve had a lot of thinking to do as well these last few days.  We decided some time ago that we couldn’t make the early ARC crossing which leaves on November 10^th.  We’ve since agreed we’re not in the right space to cross with the main ARC later in November so we’ve withdrawn from that too.  Having been tied to a tight schedule since we arrived in Greece 6 weeks ago it is blissful to know that we can please ourselves and really be free.  We’ve had too many problems to resolve, and too much new kit to fit and get to grips with - we feel we need a few weeks just to get to know Deep Blue and enjoy sailing her without deadlines.  The winds out in the Atlantic are not pretty at the moment and the wind height is fearsome so we’re sitting tight for a couple more days at least.