Patience 1100GMT  14:46 north 41:46 west

 

Dear patient Patience follower,

 

We hope you are all well, we certainly are. A beautiful morning has dawned,we are 2 hours behind GMT, and we are rolling along at 8 knots, wind on the starboard quarter with full main and genoa, far too warm for shirts. We are 181 miles closer to our destination than we were 24 hours ago and the 200 mile day is in our sights. Sorry about the weather at home, but someone had to volunteer to do this trip!

 

So far you have only had half the story of our adventure. Now we have passed the half way mark and are on the downhill run I can reveal what is happening on the dark side of the ocean after the sun goes down. When we left Las Palmas there was a glorious full moon which when it appeared gave more light than any torch. After two weeks, last night was moonless and with no clouds in the sky and none of your landlubber light pollution we were treated to complete horizon to horizon starlight with reflections off the sea and seemingly endless shooting stars dashing above- no reasons to complain about the night shifts. We are always two on watch at any time, night included but also receive help from Eddy,the sixth member of the crew. He is very  even tempered mild mannered doesn’t eat drink smell or pass wind and lets us know he is about with a characteristic squeak at times. It has been noted that he squeaked wildly after one of Bob’s jokes when the rest of us missed it! The off watch crew at night are also busy having final rehearsals for their version of the expected Christmas number one hit of Silent Night – the snoring version.

 

Our boat speed and the moderate sea conditions have stopped fishing activities, and the need to eat our on board stocks of gourmet food prepared by the crew in our apartment before we left Las Palmas. The plan is to bring in fresh supplies to St Lucia and add to the trophy rail on the pushpit, when we get closer.

 

Due to low battery levels requiring recharge this blog had to be halted and finished at 1600 GMT when we have moved on to 42:32 west 1070 miles to go – not bad for a Sunday mornings work. The crew are about to enjoy siesta, one of the good Spanish habits we picked up. I think I can hear Eddy contributing to the conversation!

 

love to all

 

For and on behalf of my fellow elite sailing crew members

 

Charlie