Penguin
Sun 27 Nov 2005 12:24
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DAY 8, 11.32am
We're still here!
GENERAL SYNOPSIS
Had a great couple of days yoting, with nice
easterly (ish) winds that we have used to take ourselves a little further south
so as to (hopefully) miss the southwesterly winds on the back of Delta.
Have now done enough, we think, so have cracked off (technical term meaning
headed away from the wind) and are just to the north west of the
Cape Verde islands, heading toward St Lucia for the first time. Kite
is up, sun is shining and all looking good. Delta seems to be less of an
issue now, as it is to the north of our position by a good few
hundred miles. A new low is developing so will need to keep an eye on
it, but so far not a major issue either. Also, have passed another
milestone - now have less than 2000 miles to go!
FIRST AID TRAINING COMES GOOD
Due to a rope flicking into Jay's eye, a bit
of first aid was needed on Friday night, with bandages added purely for good
effect on the photos! No major problems but a bit sore for a while.
Also meant that he skived off duties for a day.
NEW TALENT DISCOVERED
Late on Friday eve, the sounds of singing were
heard throughout the boat - like the voice of an angel, were our thoughts at
first. Once we realised that it was an Aretha Franklin song this first
assumption seemed a little rash and it was with great surprise that we
discovered................Clare! Yes, there she was, singing away merrily
whilst helming the boat in 30knots of wind, at night! Picture the scene in
your own minds - a classic! Of course, as is normally the case, most of
the notes were off key and the words were a garbled mumbling, but who cares, it
was great!
JAKS BACK
Yes, after 8 days of sailing we have finally
seen Jackie on deck Rather than being below, a funny green colour and
semi-comatose, she's now on deck, a funny green colour and semi-comatose!
Ah well, by the end at least she may have a bit of a tan. (No, really,
before anyone gets worried, she's fine and has been for days).
WILDLIFE REPORT
bit quiet on the wildlife front;
a slightly balding monkey spotted swinging around
the deck,
a parrot squawks a lot when we sail off
course,
5 spotted dolphins came back to see us this morning
and have had lots of sightings of flying fish - 3 of them landing on the
deck. unfortunately only got to one in time, the others were discovered as
fish biltong (duly hung up for when time's get hard).
FISHING UPDATE
as we are now so confident of catching fish, we
have suspended all fishing until we have munched our way through all
the minced beef....shepherds pie in the middle of the
atlantic....
From the Crew of Penguin, bye bye for now, sleep
well (and appreciate the quiet, the stillness of your beds and the comfort and
levelness of your toilets!!!) .
PS. To the Partridge /Williams clan- its OK to
send e-mails (penguin {CHANGE TO AT} mailasail {DOT} com),
if you want to (just no pictures please). Ta.
PPS. Fay, thanks fot the fruit cake - was our treat
yesterday afternoon!
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