Atlantic Crossing Day 11
Macushla
Mark & Sue Owen
Wed 1 Feb 2012 13:03
Miles travelled in the last 24 hours: 157
Miles logged since leaving the Canaries: 1,504
Miles to go to Barbados: 1,417
All is well on board and we're making the most of the great 25 knot tail winds.
The last 24 hour run has been the fastest so far on this trip and, given we normally average 5.5 knots, to find ourselves surfing down waves at 9.5 knots is certainly exhilarating. It really does feel incredibly fast, especially so at night, and at these speeds we're closer to keeping pace with the swell, making for a more comfortable ride and only subject to the occasional slap on the stern quarter.
We've also passed the half-way point which has been a great psychological boost and we may well mark the occasion tonight with a small beer, although up until now we've been running a dry ship.
Last night the Flying fish seemed to be targeting the cockpit, as they flew off the top of the surf (thankfully on skipper's watch). He managed to get most of the slippery, fluttery customers back in to the sea before they died, but will need to be on washing up duty for the next two weeks to get the pungent, fishy smell off his hands.
Part of the day's routine involves checking around the boat for signs of wear and tear with visual checks on the rigging and chafe points. Everything is constantly working really hard on this trip and it's important to identify any minor issues before they become major problems.
Thanks so much for all the emails. It really gives us great pleasure to hear from family and friends and is one of the high points of our day,