We’ve been progressing very well for 36 hours now, and heading in the direction we want to go as well which is a welcome relief. The wind has just dropped in the last hour or so but we’re hoping this is just a temporary lull rather than a herald of a change in direction.

 

Our whale friend returned to us yesterday evening as we were changing sail. It came up about 30-40m away and took three breaths same as last time. Had a proper good look at it as well. Easily over 40 feet long. As the sun was setting we had a pod of dolphins follow us for a while again. They had a merry old time playing in the bow wave as they seen want to do. Shockingly, we actually managed to get a semi-reasonable photo of them for once! Still plenty of birds, though more of the big ones than the little.

 

We’ve really had very little rain so far, and with all the spray that has been coming over the decks during this trip, almost every surface of the boat is heavily salt encrusted. This lack of rain is something we have not previously encountered on our holidays in the west coast of Scotland.

 

Just after dinner some fool (for some reason his name escapes me at this point) accidentally dropped the washing up bowl over board whilst trying to clean it out. Thus followed a scene that would have made Laurel and Hardy jealous as we continually circled round, not quite getting close enough or running it over completely. You’ll be pleased to hear that after about 20 mins of this, it was successfully retrieved, and a lot cleaner than when it started.

 

Hamsi

 

41:45.53N 44:38.02W