25:08.2N 019:25.1W
>
> Dolphins today!
Steady downwind sailing - re-gybed the pole an hour ago to
> set a better
course... had been doing 7kn in 20kn of wind, but now easing
> off a
bit. Everyone getting into the swing of the rota: 3 hours on, 3
hours
> off for six crew, while the 7th serves as 'mother watch' looking
after
> cooking and cleaning. Works out so everyone gets a cabin to
themselves for
> their 3-hour sleep each round, while their 'opposite
number' is up in the
> cockpit. Paul's 'mother watch' yesterday
included a great bangers-and-mash;
> David is on today and getting into
the swing of the salt-water washing up,
> which now requires a bucket
since the seawater pump broke on Day 1.
>
> Ruth has just had a
seawater shower... assisted by some of that special
> seawater shampoo, a
bucket, and cut-off water bottles.
> Barry has been showing Tom the ropes
with respect to fishing: Tom was last
> seen attaching a massive bolt and
nut to the end of his fishing line in
> order to straighten it out (Barry
swears he has previously used that nut and
> bolt as a lure).
Despite a massive investment in fishing gear, no fish
> yet -- though
Barry did snag a sea bird yesterday!
>
> Fantastic starry night
last night, and once again not much evidence of other
> boats, with one or
two minor exceptions on the horizon. Today we're
> watching an
aircraft circling about 10 miles away, part of Tenerife-based
> Search And
Rescue, tracking down a (possibly false) MayDay that was reported
> in the
vicinity. Also heard about one ARC yacht abandoning the ARC due to
>
lost rudder.
>
> Now, with all this technology, one thing that's
proving to be a bit stubborn
> is the, er, WEATHER FORECASTS, which are
mysteriously not getting through to
> any of the ARC yachts
>
> Matt still running a tight ship with an expert eye - and all crew (so
far)
> getting along swimmingly (whoops... wonder if that
foreshadows
> something...).
>
> MARC Phoebe B
>
