28:10.400n 62:20.000w

Distance to home:  3126 miles

Distance run today:  115 miles  

Course 350

We keep heading north and waiting to clear the easterlies that are being generated by our high pressure system.  Once that happens we can start to head for home and until then, it’s quite nice out here.

Domestic

As a result of storing fish with some ice we needed to create a bit of space in the fridge so decided to treat ourselves to another rum punch on the rocks mid afternoon.  That’s a fine drink for the Tropics and the locals know what they are doing. 

Although there is plenty of fish on board to eat, yesterday it was noticeable that some of the meat in the bottom of the fridge was starting to defrost so we decided to save the fish for now and start on some chicken.  Tim knocked us up another fine culinary cuisine of garlic infused chicken served with pasta in a tomato pesto sauce and courgette.

Whoever is on watch for the 4 – 6 slot is making bread once it gets light at 5am so that we have a fresh loaf for breakfast.  That was Jez this morning and I think more work is needed.  What we have looks like bread and even tastes like bread but it is only half the size that it should be.  We have another month out here so he should get the hang of it by the time we are home. 

The Bimini is up in the cockpit and we are hiding from the sun and watching the world go by.  There is an American cargo ship about 10 miles off our beam which is serving as entertainment for now.

There is talk of watching a film in the cockpit on a tablet this afternoon but first we have to tidy up, check the boat and agree on a film.  That last bit may take some time.

Sailing

Yesterday afternoon, the wind had veered slightly and the motion of the boat as it rides the waves became pretty unpleasant.  No-one turned green but we were churned up a bit and it gets harder to move around when the boat is rolling through 80 degrees and surging down waves.   It’s then that we are happy to be on a Sadler 34 rather than a big, modern cruiser that is brilliant in a marina but hard to live in at sea. 

Natural History

Yesterdays’ big bird has been identified as a Great Skua and we have had a few Corys Shearwaters which we recognise from the trip out.  We haven’t seen the Bosun Bird (Tropic Bird) for a couple of days and think we are now out of their range as we are very much mid-atlantic as opposed to Caribbean sea.

Todays responses

Lizzie, Joe, Harvey  – An Emu ? You haven’t asked yet but the answer is no.  We don’t want one !

Em – Oh yes, we are into the chocolate.  Cold from the fridge in the evening.  I think we may just have enough as long as we push on. 

Gareth – glad you are liking it.  We don’t have a watermaker but carry loads on board.  About half in the boat tanks and the rest in 5 litre bottles bought from the supermarket.  There about 15 of these crammed into odd corners of the boat.  It rains out here and we can direct the water into out tanks if we chose to ( the idea is to let the rain wash away the salt on deck then make a dam in the scuppers to fill the tank).  We haven’t had to do this and don’t expect to this trip, but you never know.

Jason – weather format is good.  Just as you have it on text and every 3 days or so please.  We can pull grib files but just download wind speed and direction so the pressure info is useful.  Good luck on the launch. 

Dave S – got your fishing text late last night.  Looks like you had as good a day as us.

Bye for now

Sadie