Blog 9th April

Nightsong
Fri 9 Apr 2010 16:21
Dear Blog
 
Hoorah we have had had no further failures these last 24 hours. And the wind has gone south of east so we have a beam reach with full working sail having shaken the reef out 2 hours ago.. And we have done 174 miles in the last 24 hours an average of 7.25 knots. And 493 miles from Soper's Hole, Tortola, an average speed of 6.8 knots in 3 days, most of it hard on the wind. My bottom cleaning really does seem to have helped.
 
Our nightwatch pattern has been set and is working well - supper about 7pm while it is still light, then Sarah does the 8 to 11pm watch, I take over for 3.5 hours till 0230am then Tony does till 6am when Sarah comes on watch again. During the day we do as we did in the ARC with people sleeping when they feel like it. It is still hot in the day but cooler at night - tho' I still have not put trousers on and only 2 layers on top.
 
Tony as usual is being a star - herewith a photo of him doing his morning rigging check. Something I have learnt and will always do on long passages
 
Running low on milk but eating well with the 3 suppers so far consisting of chilli con carne, spag bog and chicken curry. Tonght pork tenderloin and then Saturday night corned beef, beans and cabbage (an AMb speciliaty) ! Should be in by Sunday night but we have pasta and tins if not!
 
Sadly the water is getting co,lder and colder - 21C now - can I really swim in that? Oh yes and the cockroaches seem to have suffered from seasickness and be in serious decline. Anyway hopefully we can get then finally with the kit the Boases brought with them in Bermuda!!
 AJB   9th April 2010