Ah, what a welcome !

Noisily announcing the arrival of Galatea " The Island Piglet" and her 3 piggy occupants to the tropics, we were greeted warmly with several circumnavigations of the boat, by a beautiful , pure white with two single white tail feathers, crimson beak and black mask - tropic bird !

At least we must be nearing the tropics  and associated consistent SE Trades, one week after leaving Cape Town. Its nice to be out of the relatively stormy cape conditions and lumpy uncomfortable seas and now getting much smoother conditions and only about one and a half meter swells (was twice this in CT).

Two thirds of the way to St Helena, and just put our first gybe in after a 1000nm this morning. Now on starboard, we have to hang on with one arm to shower, where on port we could wedge ourselves in the corner to get wet.  This is much more cumbersome, so thinking we might have to gybe back on to port each time to shower..........this trip might take longer than expected !

'Tree' piglet is now consuming only half of what he was eating aboard (a third of what he eats ashore ordinarily)  as he is on his 'slimming program' to look his very best, lithe, ripped, buff awesomest for his beloved when he returns in a couple of weeks from Ascension.

'Niggs' piglet consumes everything in sight if its not tied down, as he is the captain and therefore needs to keep his energy up more than the others (apparently) !

(Probably has a lot to do with his fiddling with every part of the boat, all day, and night.....even while he is sleeping, and even when the crew are both engrossed in their books, and the boat sailing along quite fine ?

'Schroeds' piglet is his normal, demure quiet conservative self, that clears up the scraps after most meals (waste not, want not....pick it up and eat it !) motto........so no change. Cute little piglet really.

Missing you's all. Xxx

Till next time, this piggy........out !

- S/V Galatea