Noon position 28 46N, 13 57W. We set off this morning at 10.00 after Andy and I had had an English breakfast and as soon as we had engaged the auto-pilot, it started playing up again but after some attention it seems to have settled down for the time being. At the moment we are doing a steady six knots with the main, yankee and mizzen up and a northerly wind blowing between 12 and 16 knots.

For the next week we are trying out a new watch system with Andy taking the 08.00-12.00 and 20.00-2400 watch, Ian taking the 12.00-16.00 and 00.00-0400 and I’ll do the 0400-08.00 and 16.00-20.00 watch.

Tomorrow morning we have a lightening visit to make to Gran Canaria as we pass by to pick up some filters for our dear watermaker and then we continue south to the Cape Verde islands where we pick up our fourth crew member who will be with us until early January.

After watching the rugby yesterday, it would be a brave person who put a bet on Wales wining the grand slam next year!