Course  250  

 

Speed 3 kts

 

 

 

We are moving !

 

Not fast but in the right direction.  The breeze picked up late yesterday evening to 3 knots, rising to 5 today and we have flown spinaker, main and genoa and finally 2 poled out genoas as it has been light and flukey throughout.  We expect this to rise to 7 knots tomorrow morning and hope that it will then continue to do so.   Not least because we have to hand steer and this is very tiring overnight.

 

In all of this we lost another halliard up the mast and this time it was Jez's turn to climb to the top (it's 40') to retrieve it.  We did this whilst sailing on under twin headsails so no time was lost.  The sea was beautifully blue from up there but there were no other boats to be seen.

 

Rumour has it that you have more wind than you need at present back home.  We are being careful what we wish for, but could we have 10 knots of it please ?

 

Chris has been keeping us up to date with the ARC fleet and it seems there are still plenty around us and using the same strategy.  The really fast 60' racing fleet has started to arrive in St Lucia but these are professional racers in big purpose build boats - and they deliberately went north to the storms in order to use the big winds to go fast.  We are happy to be here rather than to have tried that !

 

 

 

The main water tank ran dry today ( or so we thought ) .  We have a good 90 litres elsewhere on the boat but this did prompt us to brush teeth in salt water this morning and start to conserve a little until it rains and we can add to the tanks by collecting fresh water as it runs off the main.  We think that 90 litres will last us 3 weeks at about 1 lt / person / day.  We don't wash much !

 

As it happens we found the tank to be still 1/3 full as the take off point for the manual tap is high in the tank.  We can either use the electric pump to get at this or wait till we tack and the manual pump will work as the water moves in the tank.

 

It'sa so hot that we now have the Bimini ( a cockpit tent that still allows you to sail the boat for the non sailors ) rigged - the shade is vey welcome. 

 

Natural History.

 

Our dolphin visitors have now been identified as "Atlantic Spotted Dolphins". A name that perfectly fits our description of them.  Thanks Dave

 

 

 

Lizzie - milkshake signs in ICT sound good  It's really hot here, I'll have a chocolate one please.

 

Em - Curry Saturday with the girls.  I've explored Tim's food stocks and we have dozens of tinned curries in reserve.  We may join you but it's roast beef tonight because it has started to defrost in the (overpowered) fridge.

 

Rowles kids - did mum really believe the octopus story ?  What about you ? 

 

Harvey - more tests ?

 

Joe - X country update please

 

Dave S - Not a Great Shearwater.  2 ft wingspan not 3 1/2.  Thanks for Forgus stuff - sounds faster than us in light airs so we are happy to be matching them.

 

Richard Shadrack - wind improving.  Cross you fingers for us .

mum -thanks for the football scores and were all fine and very hot.