33:34.5N  035:08W

We have 432 miles to run to Horta and have sailed 136 miles in the last 24 hours.  Actually, we motored for half of that, using some of our precious diesel to make ground when the wind fell away overnight.  It returned around dawn and we have been making steady progress this morning under cruising chute in glorious weather.  The Sargasso weed persists, thwarting our attempts to catch the fish who swim brazenly alongside the yacht.  Little Portuguese Men-o’War have their sails hoisted too, though it’s hard to determine whether they are heading north or south. 

We’ve seen no ships or other yachts for a couple of days, although the visibility is extraordinarily good and the sea is about as flat as it gets. 

We have advanced our clocks onboard to (GMT –2) so we are now three hours behind the UK.  

Morale onboard remains high and we have no new defects.

Richard, Ed and Tom