Bermuda to Azores, 18th May 2010

33:22.8N 63:39.0W

I’m happy to report that our first evening underway is squarely behind us and we’re now some 650 Nautical miles directly south of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Martin has plotted our course to Horta on the GPS unit and while the boat won’t quite sail itself, we should begin to benefit from the North Atlantic current.

In other news, at approximately 0500 this morning, Mogul spotted a pod of dolphins, but we fear they have kept the jettisoned dinner dish from last night for themselves.

With the last newspaper now gone, Quentin continues to challenge the crew with a whole host of nautical trivia - side conversations have now descended into American politics and the composition of the Twinkie (a true American delicacy).

Tonight’s dinner will be sausages with broccoli, mashed potatoes and some onion gravy - Mogul on meal duty. While tasty no doubt, it is a far cry from our last big dinner ashore at Ascots in Hamilton a few nights prior (picture below).  We suspect our friend Thomas will be enjoying a nice lobster cocktail with a glass of chardonnay while we tough it out here on the briny.  Actually as we type, there is a gull showing a persistent interest in our fishing lure so, we may have Gull wings after all.

The joys of bathing without fresh water and the realisation that conditions are a bit cool for ablutions on the spa deck, we have reverted to the famous standby: The Wet Wipe ! What price a real shower?

Otherwise, like yesterday the crew seem well and happy. The Satellite phone seems to have some signal issues so calls don’t always get through - if you are feeling ignored, just soak up the blog until communications improve.

Oboe seems to be on the way but we won’t be cricking our neck just yet!

Goodnight and best wishes from:

The ‘New’  New Knightriders, The Hoff, Martin, Michael, Charlotte, Quentin and Mogul++