What a difference a day makes – especially at sea! Shortly after filing yesterday’s blog – our winds truly arrived - with a vengeance and still an easterly headwind! Motor off – sails out and at last some peace - we were under sail again - but headed north east. It was not long before sail reefing (reducing sail area) began as the winds grew in strength…and grew in strength again. Night fell with ominous dark clouds gathering on the horizon (why is it always at night?)! Quote from the log at 04:30 this morning: “In the midst of a strong storm, winds at 27kn (that’s 35+ mph) gale force 6, heavy rain, rough seas – 3 reefs main, 2 reefs jib” – it was a long night battling the wind and waves up to ~4m (that’s over 12ft). Mike verbalized a “not again” after experiencing our storm sailing during the prior St Thomas passage, but it prepared him well for this night of no sleep battling the elements at the helm.  Boats speeds reached 9 knots on a “handkerchief” size sail!!  We were soaked and cold. Watches were cut to 1 hour to dry out and rest. However, we did catch a fish – well, the fish caught us – the traditional night time “hit” on the spray-hood by a large flying fish landing on the deck – suitably rescued and back in the water after finding it from its very strong fish smell! Sunrise gave little respite although we knew from the GRIB files there would be some abatement later in the day. Noon day run competition cancelled as well as sun downers this evening as we were all too tired and distracted sailing through the storm.  We are now sailing “comfortably” under a single reef main and full jib in 15 knot winds – although some 40nm north of our rhomb line to Bermuda – we will have to recover this extra distance sometime soon….more to come tomorrow with the realization we will probably not make landfall until sometime Saturday night / Sunday morning – that’s sailing! Di, Mike and Phil