17 degrees 01N 054 degrees 23W

Look at the map for this position.  If too difficult it is 400 miles due east of Antigua.  So we should be there on Monday morning although if we carry on at this speed we will have to doodle around a bit to wait for daylight before we enter Jolly Harbour.  Lights etc are all unreliable in the Caribbean and all advice is "do not enter by night".  Encouraging if we ever come to rely on a normal buoy.

We have been accused of writing mis-spelt entries for a prep school creative writing course.  Our accusers need read no further and may care to try to use their computers standing on their heads!

The sleuths have continued their investigation to find the Nighttime Nibbler.  The Tape Measure Test revealed one at 34ins, one at 35 ins, one at 39 ins and one, well out in front, at 50 ins.  More circumstantial evidence perhaps.  The problem we have is that now the NN knows that all are keeping a lookout he has gone to ground.  We are left therefore only with the unproven suspicion taht it was Mr 50 ins.  We shall never know and the gang plank remains, for the time being, unused.

The weather has changed somewhat since our last blog.  The sun has deserted us for much of the day and cloud has appeared.  This has brought squalls when the rain has come down and the wind has risen to perhaps 40 knots as the offending cloud bank passes over head.  We are therefore busier than we have been, shortening and then lengthening sail, changing the sail plan and so on in order to keep Ares safe but going fast.  Three days and we certainly feel that we are on the last lap.

Despite the fact that we are closing on the islands there are as yet no sign of other ships.  One triggered Sea-me a couple of nights ago but since then not a dicky bird.  On the other hand we remain a target for flying fish and I cleared more off the decks at 0600 this morning.  Rigor Mortis had certainly set in by then.

The Purser, also IC fishing, is, as I write, trying to catch the big one.  As the picture shows so far his success has been limited, but we hope that today is the day.  He is in the back of the boat with a couple of the biggest lures you have ever seen on the end of 200m of what looks like electric fencing wire.  However he reports that he is losing heart and feels that the ocean contains not a fish.  Of course the rest of us are the problem as we are going too fast.  Let us tell you Doc that a shower and a few rums beckon so it's full speed ahead me hearties.

Our next Blog will I hope report our safe arrival in Antigua.  Until then it's farewell from me and farewell from them.