Atlantic Crossing Day 16 All things come to those that wait

Malua
Harry Watson Smith
Thu 6 Dec 2012 10:07
Malua is at 13:22.46N 45:02.10W at 1200 on 5/12/2012
Distance covered 2046
Distance to go 854
Daily run 124
We have been waiting for the wind for three days.  No wind.  The GRIB files downloaded over the sat phone shows an Easterly wind of about ten knots but the local Gods did not hear that so we wait.
I made bread again today with the Moroccan flour and it felt good as I was kneading it.  It rose well but then during the proofing stage it would not rise again so we have a rather flat loaf.  The taste and texture is good but it is not light and fluffy.
I also defrosted the freezer.  I took all the frozen meat out, put it in a plastic crate and then wrapped it in an blanket and eiderdown.  A small fan blew hot air into the freezer and onto the plate.  What usually takes a full morning only took two hours so in went the meat again.  We still have 3 kg of mince, 2 kg of beef for stews, 4 chicken breasts, chicken sausage and 2 kg of pork steaks.  More then enough food.  I cooked up some beef stew in the traditional French way with a good splash of red wine, herbs of Provence, mushrooms and a few carrots and onions in to taste.  We had half this evening just after the sun set. Still hot but the heat was dropping.
I have rigged up the sun shades on the port side of the boat to keep the sun off the cockpit during the day.  The forward hatch is open with the wind scoop up and all the hatches are open.
No wind.  Last night I changed to the front diesel tank after running the engine for 116 hour since leaving the Canaries.  Yes this is a sailing boat but no wind and we do want to reach Barbados before Christmas.  In the days of old the seamen would have driven the horses over board by now ( we are in the horse Latitude) because they would have drunk too much water.  We still have sufficient.
A magical moment on Malua