Day 9

Ripples2
Tue 2 Dec 2014 22:39
Good news, after waiting for days for our green bananas to ripen, they are now looking edible. The problem is they have all ripened at once. Sixty odd of 'em, Caribbean cottage pie for tea, mince and banana, with potato, cheese and banana topping, mmmm.
Good progress overnight as the wind is in the low twenties, we are reaching over ten knots on the surf down the three meter swell. because of our angle it is relatively comfortable, although if I had been faced with seas like this on day one, I might have jumped ship.Truth is, I really like the motion, the feeling of isolation and the comarardery (Emma, you can pull me up on that one as I don't have a spell checker). The sickness goes after three days although I haven't actually had to rush to the side, it's not pleasant doing certain tasks below, especially cleaning the heads. We are expected to arrive on the twelfth if we continue at this rate, the racing boats arrive today or tomorrow.
Bit of drama around midnight as one of the fleet was right behind us on the same course and showing no avoiding tactics. We called him on the radio a few times to no avail, so we sent an alarm to him. This prompted a response, we suspect he was asleep at the wheel.
Great curry for dinner, a joint effort with Luchi, he works wonders with Basmati rice. We now only have enough food left for three or four months, then we will have to start on all the corned beef. We are eating like kings, but for the after midnight shifts where I survive on coffee and Marathons (I refuse to bow to commercial pressure and call them Snickers)
Just glanced up from writing this to see we were on course to run over 20 feet of stray fishing net attached to a bunch of yellow floats, just goes to show you have to be alert at all times.
I mentioned to John that there are a lot of waves cunningly desguised as Whales when....up popped a Whale! Not 2 meters from our port beam blowing its Crilly breath on us, about 3 meters long, blue and white underneath. It continued with us for ten minutes riding the waves and circling the boat. Everyday we have something different. Spent a lot of time on the helm today, it's very hot now and the stats say we had a good day yesterday making up two positions in the race...sorry, cruise.
Happily contemplating more sun cream for my knees when BANG! A
Block and shackle flew off the foresail.
Another two or three hours lost on repairs, eventually back on course thank god, as the alternative was we had to change course and I would have missed my flight home.

Nick
20:06.4N 36:04W