10:30hrs Friday 23^rd November

Las Palmas Marina

Two days to go! 90% of the provisions now on board and stowed. To provide a bit of flavour to supper time we have packed 40 bottles of assorted wines to be washed was down by 100 cans of beers – we are hoping for a dry crossing! Louis and I are just back from the Mercado where we have ordered our fresh fruit and veg which will be delivered to the boat this afternoon.

Yesterday, we filled with fuel and gas. We are carrying 335ltrs of diesel and three bottles of gas for the crossing. Weather here has been mixed with heavy rain for much of the last two days. Today is dry but overcast with strong winds. At the preliminary briefing on Wednesday the ARC organisers are predicting a fast start with 20 – 35kts of wind to run us down the African coast for the first week. While this may change it suggests it might be a fast crossing! There are two Open 60’s here hoping the beat the current crossing of approximately 13 days – they are aiming to do it in 11 days. We now have our handicap – 0.993 for those interested which does not feel that competitive. Navillus (Bavaria 50) from Tralee has a handicap of 1.09! We met Brian and his crew this morning – they got in at 03:00hrs this morning although boat has been here for a while. They have a busy couple of days on.

Richard is off at a lecture on sex(tants) - I am sure he will come back a better man equipped to follow Venus and Uranus across the Atlantic!

We have a boat from San Fransisco near us “Blue Heron” and another form Moololaba Australia, she is not doing the Arc though.

Paul has cleaned the important parts of the boat and has been appointed chief medical officer and is now only answering to the title of Dr. O Leary.

That’s all for now, more later.