Course  300  

 

Speed 6.5 kts

 

 

 

It's been rough. 

 

Double reefed main and well rolled genoa in 25 kts of wind.  Wind and sea both on the starboard quarter and we are surfing the majority of the waves with the odd sneaky one breaking in the cockpit.  Every now and then we get a pair of waves that synchronise to throw the boat round from the stern and leave us pointing nearly North.  The sails shudder, Monty, the Monitor self steering gear, moves his paddle to the wind and we shrug our way back through the water to head for Antigua.

 

That's been the story of the morning but as we move to the afternoon the sea has sorted itself out and we have more regimented wave pattern that is easier to cope with.  There is still the odd horror and as we type something monsterous has soaked Tim in the cockpit,  thrown jez across the cabin from the chart table to land on the cooker crash bar, and woken Ricky from his afternoon nap ! .Its very hot especially  down below with all hatches shut.

Domestic 

 

There is bread making going on in the cockpit but given the rough seas, pretty much everthing else is on hold for now.

 

We had the first of our "formal" tuna meals at lunch yesterday.  Raw tuna drenched in lemon juice with soy and garlic mayonaise (and a fresh loaf). 

 

The last of our dorado was baked for tea yesterday and tonight we will be eating more tuna.

 

Cathy has sent through the sports personality of the year nominees - with 2 cyclists on board there is a big push for Chris Froome but we are thinking that it will be a close run between Andy Murray and A P McCoy.

 

Natural History.

 

As Jez went forward for a sail change this morning, he came across a big flying fish that had found it's way on deck in the night.  It was very different to the species that we saw off the African coast and was the size and shape of a large mackeral (with 7 inch wings each side).  It was silver in colour.  In keeping with much of the natural history we report - we ate it !

 

And it fried up beautifully to supplement breakfast.

 

 

 

 

 

Ricky asked about his Lloyds shares at 17.50 hrs last night from a thousand miles out in the Atlantic - We had an answer by 18.10 hrs.  Technology is great when it works !  Ricky seems happy with the price and with mention of an interim ...  Thanks to Jason, Richard, Nick and Dave for the info (and anyone else we missed )

 

We also had a load of responses to the tuna story - thanks to the many who confirmed bluefin.  Including the unsigned texts.  Dave - sorry, not your lure.  It was a blue / silver tassled thing with a double hook.  Yes it looks warm blooded and yes it is delicious.

 

Em Wood - good to see you working hard and we think the Brownlee brothers would want to talk to you about your dad crossing the atlantic in a small boat !

 

Gareth - good to hear you are out there and we didn't now Mandela had died.  But we like the associated story.  And this is heaps better than commuting.

 

Will - you would love this - we are holding you to your weather forecast.

 

Dave S - definatly a seabird.  Looked like your standard coastal seagul with an orange V round the neck.

 

Rowles's - ready for Xmas evening at school - we have christmas cake left by Angus on the trip to Fuerte Ventura so will be eating that.

 

Richard shadrack thanks for the updates keep them coming

 

Keep warm all