49:49.000n 12:30.000w

Distance to home:  517 miles

Distance run today:  53 miles  

Course 100

We needed a project to focus on to help get over the frustrations of light winds and this afternoon Wills delivered us a corker …

Domestic

At about 1pm he wandered into the cabin uttering the words “I think there’s something wrong with the toilet !”  We have a clear rule for this situation along the lines of, if you break it, you fix it. So Will took the tools and a bucket and set to. 

Several hours later after dismantling the pump, rodding the holding tank and a rebuild of the pipework by Will and Tim, it seems that he was the innocent victim of a problem with the main outlet pipe which has blocked gradually over weeks and months. Sadie is now smelling sweet once again and we are putting gear back where it belongs.

Still, it’s kept us occupied at a point where the boat is sailing herself and Wills will be able to use the experience should he ever apply for a job with Dyno-Rod.  

Whilst this was going on we have been the subject of a low flypast from an aircraft which we assume to be “spotting” for traffic entering the Western Approaches.

Sailing

Frustrating but getting steadily better. 

The wind died at about 7pm and left us with a beautiful, mirror smooth sea and the mainsail crashing about.  We took it down and it stayed that way until Will raised it again at 05.50 hrs. 

Tim and Jez swapped this for the spinnaker a couple of hours later and we have been sailing well under this since then with wind speed increasing steadily.

We are now picking up Shannon Coastguard broadcasts from Ireland although they are 150 miles away.   It almost feels like we are home.

Natural History

Dolphins came for an early morning display and Tim and Jez are fairly sure they saw a shark this morning.  Cruising past about 10m off the beam with both dorsal and vertical tail fin showing.  (We have just seen a second as the blog is being written).  Sharks this close to the UK ?

And the dolphins are getting bigger.  Same type though we think.

Last night Wills was on first watch and went up into the cockpit, looked out and thought it was raining from the droplets splashing on the silky smooth surface of the water, but it wasn’t. It must have been little fish of some sort, maybe they were trying to escape something eating them all up so Wills dropped the line over the side with a squid lure to see if any monster would take the bite, no luck, probably for the best.

Today’s Responses

Em – If Katie can wait I will be cheaper. Think I missed the first email on drains but glad it’s sorted.  Chocolate beyond saving where mouldy – 2 squares per man per day.  Glad one of us is working –will try to sort that next week.  Breeze set to increase and bring us home. 

Lizzie – Pink is good.  And Hi too.  XXX

Jason – My tender is as big as the Black Pig.  I wouldn’t tow it to windward behind Juno.  You need an inflatable.  We have had South and South East all day.   South Westerly tomorrow.

Frank – Ta we have the number. 

Bye for now

Sadie