Position 14:07N 058:37W  Distance to run 134nm

 

Dear Reader

 

As the crew face what they hope to be their last full day at sea, thoughts have turned to what might have been done differently/better.  The main gripe has been the fans fitted; they are not really man enough for the job and 50% have not lasted the course.  Otherwise, the Crew and Owner feel that the preparation and execution of the whole ARC exercise has gone extremely well.

 

BUT, we are not home yet and last night was another example that one cannot relax even when the finish is in sight.  After 2 weeks of pretty light winds, the trades in this final week have been at the top end of their expected strength and last night was no exception with wind speeds of up to 30 kts experienced.  Added to this was a fair amount of other ARC shipping that caused us to have to harded up twice as the give way vessel.  Once is unfortunate, twice poor seamanship and the moral is not to be on port tack overnight when running under poled out jib and double reefed main!

 

There is one other little episode to recount about last night.  At the watch change at midnight, MB went off watch and got himself ready for bed on his park bench in the saloon.  As he gracefully lowered himself into the berth (unaided) he emitted a shrill shriek and leapt to his feet clutching his backside as if stung by a giant bee.  It was no bee, dear Reader, but an innocent flying fish who had been looking for some shelter on a stormy night, only to be sat upon and then cast out into the night, poor fellow.

 

There was a fellow called Buster

Who never got in a fluster

But his cool took a dent

When to his bed he went

And a flying fish went for his cluster!

 

Tomorrow, dear Reader, we should arrive in St Lucia and the promise of being reunited with wives and daughters.  It also holds the wonders of wireless broadband which might allow some photos to be uploaded, so keep hitting the website.

 

Signing off

Scribes