Noon position 27 56N, 14 34.1W. We are, unfortunately, having to return to Lanzarote as the water maker refuses to work for us as well as the intermittent fault on the electronic auto-pilot. To compound our misery, the wind vane has developed a fault and without any form of self steering, 2 800 miles of hand steering would test the most patient of people.

In addition, after a squall yesterday which required us to reef down to the second reef as well as the yankee, I went to put the kettle on for a well deserved cup of tea only to discover that there was no water running from the tap. After looking in the bilge I realised where 240 litres of fresh water from the tanks had  gone. A connection had chosen that moment in the squall to part. Such is boating!

After an honest and open chat between the three of us yesterday afternoon, pressing on the Cape Verde islands was the least favourable option as far as the boat as concerned but thankfully, all of us still share the desire to cross the Atlantic in the next few weeks, although the itinerary may well have to change depending on how long the repairs take.

We are now having lunch in the cockpit of tortilla followed by a fresh fruit salad made by Ian (this being his signature dish) in the sunshine with the mood being quite positive about the crossing.