Day 17

Sadie
Mon 9 Dec 2013 18:03
14:42.745n 35:32.821w
 
 
Distance to Antigua      1521 miles
 
Distance Run today       65 miles
 
Course  275  
 
Speed 4.0 kts
 
 
Sailing update 
 
Wind died to nothing overnight and we are using the last of our diesel to head west as the GRIB, every boat we talk to and Chris Wood ashore are all telling us that strong and consistent NE winds are due in the next 36 hours.
 
We are preparing for this by changing the mainsail to an older one as this will be downwind work and we dont want to damage the newer one unnecessarily and checking the gear for chafe and damage.
 
Once we have wind we shall return to the Great Circle course but our priority is to pick this up ( and the speed that goes with it first ).
 
Still lots of yachts about our position - nothing in sight but we have become used to seeing people come in and out as visibility and courses allow.
 
Domestic 
 
We are expecting a blow so Tim is baking bread and cakes whilst it is easy to do so.  Our experience last week tells us that this is much, much more difficult in 25 knots of wind and the sea it kicks up.
 
With the engine on for 24 hours we are able to draw power so we have loud music in the cockpit and beer in the fridge.
 
We are beginning to run out of veg so it is tins for anything green but we still have garlic, grapefruit and oranges to give us a bite of fresh food.
 
 
Natural History.
 
Dolphins visited us early today.
 
We also have a new bird.  White top and bottom with an orange "V" shape around the neck.  2' wingspan with wings that droop down.  Unlike the other birds we see this has a distinct "flap" of the wings rather than a glide and flies at 20 - 30 ft rather than very close to the waves.  Any ideas ?
 
We saw what we thought was a dolphin swimming slowly on the surface and crept up on it - it had a large fin and moved sluggishly, diving slowly as we approached.  We now think it may have been a basking shark
 
What we really want to see is another whale - the eyes are out for this
 
Todays responses:
 
If you can either give your name or email address then we now who you are - thanks (sort of ) for the ashes update (whoever you are )
 
Jason - thanks.  Wind useful, the waves we can deduce locally.  Sun tans good but we want speed for excitement and timekeeping.
 
Jen - football always welcome - Ipswich starting to be consistent ?  You remain our top football correspondent.
 
Granny Rowles - Too hot here for festive reindeer.  Sleigh to be pulled by flying fish !
 
Rowles Kids - save me some popcorn and I hope the tree looks good.  .
 
Talking christmas trees feels odd - whilst we have our advent calandar we are very much in shorts and swimming trunks on Sadie - Happy Christmas.
Sadie