"16:30N 48:30W "

Day 15 - more of the same.

We are more aware of  making progress since we crossed our third timeline this morning. We are now 3 hours ahead of Gran Canarian time. 726 miles to go. Yestrdays run was 157 miles.

It was my birthday yesterday. So the crew of Saucy Lady threw a party to celebrate.  They chose our evening sundowner time to celebrate .  Shame it was my watch so I was helming during the first half !

This event made me think of the ARC departure parties in Las Palmas.  It seems a world away.  There was a fancy dress party that SSL attended.  Sandra and I went as pirates.

The KLF once remarked that it doesn't matter  what you do as long as it's Rock and Roll !  They could have been referring to life on SSL. A typical situation is eating porridge. You balance youreself carefully so you roll with the boat while stabilizing the bowl.  The yacht gives a sudden lurch. You move with it, so does the bowl and the porridge but the mllk decides to rise vertically about the bowl and move sideways onto your shirt.

The weather has consisted of strong winds.  The first boat, a Maxi, has finished in record time. We have had one dismasting and two boats in our group have lost their rudders. This is the best time of the year to cross the Atlantic so there are other yachts in mid Atlantic with us.  One of these has been dismasted and another has sent out a mayday.

Incidentally - you may be wondering over the past few days why we always have a lifejacket and harness in sunshine.  We have had force 6 and higher following winds for days with 2 reefs in.  The house rule is harnesses clipped on when reefed !

Life has settled down to being on watch, cooking, eating, sleeping, going on watch, cooking.............

                                                                                  DONALD