Dec 10^th – 15:16 UTC – Day 16 (Ship’s time 12:16)

Clear skies at last! We are doing 7.5kts with the geneoa poled out using the end of the boom. Needs must, we ripped the cruising chute yesterday and having already broken the pole fittings, our options are limited. We are also monitoring a tear half way up the geneoa, if it holds; we should fly into Rodney Bay. As I write, we are exactly 500nm’s out and holding a good course. Nearest land is Barbados to our south west. The last 24 hours have been easier on both boat (despite torn chute) and crew. The stormy weather has moved to our north and last night the sky was full of stars. Around 03:00hrs ships time, a cruise ship past heading north, apart from that we have seen no other boats for almost a week.

ARC Control have issued a weather advisory just north of us and it sounds like the Northern Leeward Islands could be in for a thumping – along with any boats still up north. (see below)

We did our final, final fridge clear out yesterday – it still smells! We are all still fatigued and carrying various bumps and bruises but nothing a cold beer will not cure on arrival. We slept well last night with each of us having to be woken for our shift. It seems perverse with 500nm’s to go but we completed our Arrival Declaration Forms this morning which will probably give you a good sense for our state of mind. For the navigation buffs reading, with 2300nm’s complete our xte is currently 0.05nm – not bad eh!

ARC Control Update…………

SPECIAL TROPICAL DISTURBANCE STATEMENT

The area of disturbed weather associated with a broad area of low pressure centred about 370 nm east of Puerto Rico remains fairly well-organized...but satellite images and surface observations suggest that this system has not developed a closed circulation yet. This feature is moving westward near 15 kt and is producing heavy squalls with gale force winds to the north of the shower activity. Environmental conditions appear to be favourable for some development and a tropical or subtropical storm could form during the next 24 hours. Interests in the Northern Leeward Islands...the Virgin Islands...Puerto Rico... Hispaniola...and the eastern Bahamas should monitor the  progress of this system. Numerous moderate to strong convection is from 19N-21N  between 56W-61W. A gale warning is already in effect in this area. The GFS computer model has moisture from this system spreading over the NE Caribbean today.

This is affecting Olga north of about 18N and the far north of Tess. Wind gusts in excess of 50 kts are likely around heavier showers and squalls. As this area continues moving to the west, it will gradually be clearing in the next 24-48 hrs.

Advise to remain south of 18N until then.