FINNROSE 14.00 039:23:86N 037:15:50W WED 10/07/13

Finnrose
Thu 11 Jul 2013 01:47
Yesterday afternoon remained sunny, with a pleasant 33 degrees; predictably the wind died away, so the engine went on again at 4 p.m. We had a little company when a caro ship called the Dole Africa, destination Antwerp overtook us around 7.30 p.m. After a supper of fish pie, preparations were made for the night. The AIS is still intermittent which is frustrating, as all the cables have been investigated, and tightened. The electrical supply is ok, so we can't understand what the problem is.

A quiet night, motoring in calm sea, and dawn brought the promise of another beautiful da., Two more boats came close around 7am - the Cetus Star which was a cargo ship bound for Orlando, and Piltene, a tanker bound for Rouen.

After breakfast Ken M sorted out the topping lift on the main boom - it had become badly frayed about 2 metres into its length, so needed shortening and re-attaching onto the cleat. Ken W and Mark riveted the leach line jammer on the genoa, which had become detached. As we are now have no bread, Liz had a go at making some for lunch using Ric's Atlantic recipe. It turned out much better than yesterday's attempt, mainly because she realised this morning that the measurement for the flour was actually 800 ml and not 800 g. Luckily, Mark and Ken M said they liked dense bread, and were very kind with their comments; in fact Ken caught Liz ready to throw yesterday's attempt overboard first thing this morning, and retrieved it for his breakfast.

This afternoon attention was turned to the bow thruster which did not work in either St Lucia or Bermuda. All the electrics have been tested, apart from the control panel next to the saloon wheel. The winds remain very light, so we still motor on... 281 miles to go....