Our position at 12 00 on 19 June is 36:31.6N 055:03.7W . We have about 1264 nm to run to Horta in the Azores and we have completed about  93 nm in the last day. Five full days completed.

 

18 June - When you left us yesterday this hapless pair where heading off into oblivion with a light head wind. Well we didn’t have to wait long for something  to change, the wind machine stopped completely. This was probably on account of the forecast westerlies cancelling out the local weather easterlies. We decided it was a local situation and decided to motor sail and try and get out of trouble. We covered about 30 nm before deciding to have some peace and quiet at 19 00 for us tea. There was a flickering of life in the wind so we set off sailing on a starboard broad reach slowly slowly. After a while we were up to 2 kts, then 3 kts. Very rolly poley ride.

 

19 June – Nice morning after a peaceful night with no dramas, well not too many. We were now up to 4 kts. It was 06 00 and I decided we would pole out the head sail on the opposite side just about the time that there was a wind shift in our favour. So the pole came in again. All sails out now on a starboard broad reach and we are doing about 5,2 kts. These conditions are forecast to remain for the next couple of days at least so hoping for some better mileages. The sea state at the moment is moderate with no swell at all. The sky is clear and blue, the sea is blue and there is not a thing in sight.

 

Speed now between 5.5 and 6.5 Kts. We have all sails up and no reefs. The wind is upper teens and lower 20s. It’s frisky but  Monica is well in control. Real trade wind sailing.

 

Reserves of tea holding out, recycled tea bags not bad actually. We are down to our last ‘fresh’ meal. A pizza type thing. After that its the tins and the ’Look What I’ve Found’ packets. We have loads of stuff from last year most out of date by now. We are not too fussy.

 

Our request for volunteer cabin boys or girls for the homeward journey met with a thunderous response. We will try and get round to answering all the correspondence some time. The selection procedure was too complex for our little minds to comprehend and in the end no one came. However, there is still a place aboard RT from the Azores to Blighty for a good cook or at least someone marginally better than Norm or me. About 12 days sailing with overhead at start and end but don’t expect programmes to be kept. This is sailing after all.