Day 5
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24:32.000n 61:04.816w Distance to home: 3235
miles Distance run
today: 127 miles Course 010 At 19.20 hrs last night we crossed
the Tropic of Cancer. This is just
a line on the chart at 23 degrees North and Jez has only a woolly recollection
from school geography that this represents the furthest north that the sun moves
but we celebrated anyway with a can of Fanta. Domestic We are getting used to living
together in a confined space but there are limits. Tim was happily using Jez’s toothbrush
this morning until he noticed and gave it a good dousing in salt water to clean
it (we have plenty of salt water).
Since standards need to be maintained Jez has also shaved this morning
and is contemplating a bath in a bucket later. He needs this because he definitely
smells a bit at the moment. Tim and Wills are ploughing on
through the Sudoko book bought from Wilkinson’s for the trip but the
intelligence level of their average customer must be higher than that of any of
the other supermarkets because these are tough and are causing some frustration
in the cockpit. It’s getting cold enough at night to
need a fleece to hand in case we get a chill in the wind ( does that make some
of you feel a bit better ? ).That said we are still 400 miles south of
And we are now properly into off
shore sailing – our first loaf of the trip has just come out of the oven with
instructions to Wills and Jez to make bread whilst on morning watches as we go
on. It smells great and breakfast
will follow shortly. Last night we enjoyed sausages with
savoury rice, it was so filling there was no need for dessert and the
evening followed with a crossword another Wilkinson’s special that tested our
limits. Wills bought a Go Pro camera with him which first helped us in dry
dock when he climbed the mast with it attached to his head. Tim was able to see
from the app on his ipad exactly what wills was looking at and give clear
instructions as to what to check, secure and tidy up. Today we will have a play
with raising it up the mast on its
own on a halyard to have another look around and maybe set up to film dolphins
underwater…..if and when they pay us a visit. Sailing We haven’t touched a sail or the
windvane for over 18 hours. Given that we have a bit of spare
time we have dug out the instruction manuals for the electronics and brought
ourselves back up to speed on how things work. Natural
History The good news is that we are clear
of the weed and are now trailing a bright yellow squid lure with a huge hook on
it in the hope of attracting something worth eating up from the
depths. Update at 10.30 local – First blood
! Are you listening Mr Smart ? Small Dorado that will feed he 3 of us
very well tonight. Jez hauled it in
and it’s his first deep sea catch having let the true fishermen (Tim and Ricky)
have the fun on the way out.
Fresh fish now in the fridge and the
lure is back out as there is room in the freezer. Shortly later, probably because we
had been throwing Dorado head, tail and guts overboard, we were visited by a new
bird which helpfully hovered over the cockpit for a while. It was about 18 inches in wingspan,
delicately built with a bright orange beak, dark markings behind its face and a
12 inch streamer tail that was as long again as the body. Otherwise white overall. New to us, any ideas
? Todays
responses First questions on football – How
have Southend got on in the playoff’s.
We know that Col U stayed up !
And what has happened in the Thomas – Thanks for the election
results and glad the new car is fun! Good luck with the move sorry not there to
help but more than welcome to leave the balloon in the garage if you want to use
the trailer on the back of the Skoda. Also has the stuff in the garage been
collected? Mum – Glad to hear your attacking
the Annex finally, Anthony has offered his assistance if you need anything heavy
lifting briefly just give them a call please! Loads of Love
xxxx Gran (Mum) – Sounds like you had a
lovely time with Richard, glad your home safe and we hope to be eating plenty of
fish soon!! Joe – it’s good that you love me but
how about detail on what you are doing.
Love you too. Lizzie – we didn’t have curry in the
end but what sort of non-spicy one did you choose then ? I’ve just learned by text that it’s
cheesy beans ! Cathy – Hope the ride was good
Richard – love the Chelsea Liverpool
result (Jez’s kids wont though).
Keep them coming. Sadie |