Midnight we had made it as far as 17:23.30N 35:10.92W – 9th of December, 2008.

Engine Time – 14.5 Hours

By the morning the wind had dropped off to about 6 Knots so we decided to put the engine on just at tick over to keep the boat steady in the water. It was not a lot longer after this that the wind had decreased to nothing. All we could do was swelter in the intense heat. It was so hot we just sat down in the cabin to keep out of the sun. We have sun reflective blinds on our hatches and heavy set curtains so the cabin stays relatively cool, after all she is fiberglass and that is what they insulate houses with, not to mention she is semi submersed in water.

Fiona cooked bread which did not help with keeping the cabin cool but it turned out to be the most amazing bread I have ever eaten. Not only is the smell of freshly baked bread one of the best smells you could wish for but the bread itself was soft, hot and delicious. The two of us ate the entire loaf about 30 seconds after it came out of the oven. Luckily Fi baked two so it will be toast as a treat for breakfast tomorrow.

By mid afternoon it was so hot that neither of us new what to do with ourselves, apart from watch beads of sweat run down our already dripping bodies. In the end we decided to go for a swim. I reefed in the sails and dropped the bathing ladder and took a swim. Not sure about how you may of felt but for me it was a very very pulse raising experience. Firstly I did not want the wind to blow the boat away, but most of all I was absolutely petrified of what lurks beneath, I know nothing was there, but we have all seen the movies….

Special comments by Fiona:  Believe it or not but baked bread is definitely a luxury out here.  We ran out of bread within the first 2 days and we were both missing something simple like a piece of toast with vegemite….mmmmm.  I was pretty happy with the way the bread turned out, especially with Ben’s appreciation for it.  I reminded him that after all I do come from a family of bakers!  That’s got to count doesn’t it?  Even though I don’t have a baking bone in my body.

Day 140

Traveling Direction – West

Wind Direction – South East – what little their was

Swell – Flat as a pancake

Average Speed –  4.0

Top Speed – 6.4 Knots Through the water

Distance Covered – 94.7 Nautical Miles