43:30N  20:54W

We continue to make good progress towards the South West Approaches and are currently around 500nm from the nearest point of land – Cape Finisterre and have just under 700 miles to run to Ushant.  We have covered 155 miles in the last 24 hours, mostly under full mainsail with a poled out genoa or cruising chute, but the wind is dying (as forecast) and I expect to be under engine for most of the remainder of today.  We will take the opportunity to try to reposition ourselves a little further east, anticipating fresh south easterly and even easterly winds early next week.

The sun came out yesterday afternoon and we now have fine weather, albeit a little cooler than the Caribbean.  We have seen the odd Storm Petrel, but no ships or yachts have crossed our horizon in the last 24 hours.

It’s interesting to reflect on the different approaches of the two Transatlantic crews – Tom and Ed, who are in their twenties, slept for much of their offwatch time.  Peter and Dave, in their sixties, seem to need hardly any sleep by comparison, so my new challenge is keeping them busy! 

We have no new defects onboard and morale remains high. 

Richard, Dave and Pater