16.43.511N 027.07.386W

We had a rollicking start to the trip, surfing at 10 knots in 30 knot winds and then we stopped!   Think it was the wind shadow from the Cape Verde islands but we found ourselves in mountainous seas with no forward momentum – very uncomfortable and just grateful we had stowed everything securely, including the Christmas tree!  We had to use the engine for a couple of hours and then it was back to sailing as the winds picked up to 25 knots.    We had an uneventful night but Jon and Hecla have now disappeared off our radar screen.    Hopefully our courses will cross again at some stage before Martinique!    We picked up another yacht on our AIS this morning and they passed within half a mile of our stern but despite a number of attempts to contact them no one answered the radio!  One of the aim’s of this passage across the Atlantic is to break new grounds ..... we will be catching fish!!!  Otherwise all well on Ocean Rainbow.