Wednesday 27 July:  Today's Blog by David. 38:13.8N 09: 58.8W

What a day we had yesterday!  Once we got the rig properly set we began to bowl along quite nicely. A stable downwind rig with genoa poled out to windward and the mainsail strapped down with a preventer.  A good stable rig in a following sea.

We had some repairs to do in the forward heads. Basically, the waste pump got a little damp on the Day of Noah and – predictably with hind sight -  failed. Fortunately we had a spare and so I spent the day with my head where other people had “been” trying to change it out.  Quite a tricky task to run the wires down the same conduit etc.  but with - Bob’s oversight and advice - it is now sorted.

Meanwhile, Peter is on deck and stood my watch. Some hardship really because at last the “blue water” bit has arrived. Sunshine and  following winds  -  a peaceful calm descended over him as he spent the day sunbathing and whale watching.  Yes, I said whale watching – each time he hollered “Thar she blows” Bob and I had our heads in unsavoury places and were too late to see it! I am pleased to report tho that Peter ended the day with glowing much as a wild Rose Hip in the Autumn.

The wind gradually picked up, as did our boat speed. Fortunately the wind was from the north because it was gale force for a time. This led to all sorts of lessons learned as we shortened sail – and me with a very sore head having given the steering wheel a Glasgow Kiss. (My fault! Dooh again).  Because the wind was up, we initially doubled up the watch system but is was already abating by midnight.

Today is bright and sunny  - but the wind is forecast to die away by tonight.  Then we expect a long motor along the Algarve to Gibraltar. Arrival late Thursday night hopefully to rendezvous with someone from Oyster who is going to fix the boat.