23:21.52N 62:10.18W

118 nautical miles to noon. Close-hauled on starboard tack heading 015. The self-steering gear is performing well in a mild 12 knots or so of wind, with Neroli making 5 to 6 knots. No other vessels sighted for the last 24 hours.

This morning’s forecast showed a patch of very calm weather ahead of us between two areas of high pressure. We’re hoping the pattern will have changed by the time we get there in a couple of days. Not only do we want more wind, we also want to be able to gradually turn more toward the east from our current northerly heading. We could tack but we don’t want to slow our progress north.

We’re settling into a comfortable routine with two hour watches at night and three hours by day. We’re quickly adapting to the need to sleep when we can but invariably everyone manages to surface at meal times.

Speaking of meals, the bread (“baked fresh daily” was the sales pitch) has proved mildly troublesome. But the cook has run out of excuses (engine-room too hot, excessive humidity, tired yeast, unpredictably moving equipment, anxious crew scrutiny of every step). He expects shortly to produce a loaf that doesn’t suffer from one or more major drawbacks – though all have been consumed with enjoyment.

Tomorrow a report on the Plasticine Transport Equipment Modelling Challenge (unless the wind freshens).