Monday 17 October: Blog by (well, on behalf of) Anthony 18 11.5N 22 30.5W

Well….. this is hot, and sticky and not at all what we signed up for!

Firstly, tho, we have been going now four days and -  save for a couple of dolphins about 800 yards from San Sebastian de La Gomera and three Dorado fish we caught (if not all landed/boated)  - we have seen no wild life until we found ……squadrons (well, OK then, flights), of Flying Fish. And they really do fly – more than 50 metres is not at all uncommon – only to plunge back into the waves, hopefully far enough away from the pursuing Tuna to make good their escape!  Haven’t had any end up on deck yet, but that will doubtless come.

It WAS HOT today. Still and airless and well above 30C below decks, everyone sweating like pigs as soon as asked to move. So against this background it was fortunate that we were able to keep activities to a minimum carrying the asymmetric/spinnaker for about 32 hours before striking it tonight. It had to come down because we were no longer able to  sail directly where we need to go. We have a limited window for arrival tomorrow PM – otherwise we would have to stand off overnight until Wednesday  (cant approach the land in darkness – charts unreliable).  So just the two sail changes today – putting asymmetric/spinnaker up on the pole (having been set as a cruising chute over last night) and then taken down completely tonight motoring to our destination. Thereafter , we plan to put ourselves at the mercy of customs and immigration – wait to hear if David is out of jai!!  

Wednesday we will head south for the day to an anchorage recommended for its  snorkelling.  So anyway – sails down and engine on – we are on a schedule again!

Anthony has occupied himself with the sextant and log tables  for the last three days, seeking to better the GPS by assiduously taking morning, noon and afternoon sights and planning the morning star sight. Getting up in time to execute the morning star sight has proved harder! This has been useful for David  to reduce the sights in tandem/parallel and then share the results on a “you show me yours and I’ll…. basis.” Has allowed David to freshen up his skills in a risk-free way. Richard has been at his most enigmatic, interspersing his lightly broiling himself in the sunlight with various culinary escapades int eh galley - while Bob  has been busy cleaning parts of the boat – with Richard’s Help (and. more accurately,  oversight)

So – that is about all for today.