15/12/07 14:00

The rain has really settled in, the sky is a grey mush, visibility very poor and it seems like it will go on forever.  Wind continues NE force 5 and we’re making reasonable time.

15:00

I’m on watch. As usual, Sotiris has had his midday meal and retired for his siesta.  Nik has made himelf an omelet and Steve is pottering.  A fish strikes and Nik rushes out in his shorts to land the fish in the rain. I go hard astern and drop the yankee while Steve comes to assist in his shorts.  Sotiris appears in an Oilskin jacket and watches Nik land the fish.   I stand dumbfounded as he insists on having his picture taken holding the fish Nik has just caught and then goes back to his siesta. Nik returns to his now cold omelet. Steve cleans the small tuna on the aft deck, in his shorts, in the rain. I go back to my watch and my book.

17:00

On the change of watch a small fishing boat appears out of the murk only 100 yards or so away.   He is  80 miles offshore in foul weather.  With all the sea clutter there is no way we can boats like that on the radar.

19:00

At last the rain subsides, the clouds break up ahead and we are rewarded with both ends of a rainbow.   It’s surprisingly chilly…and it looks a lot like the English Channel out there.

20:00

Sotiris cooks the tuna in the oven with Garlic and oil. When it’s done he beats a hasty retreat to the cockpit while Steve serves it up. He will have his share tomorrow.  Our share is a bit dry and bland but this is always the case with Skipjack Tuna at least it makes a change from chicken or sphag bag.

Midnight

We’ve been motor sailing for a couple of hours while the wind made up its mind. It’s now blowing ESE a very healthy Force 6.  I come on watch and Sotiris and I drop the pole and we’re off again on the Port Tack with the wind just behind the beam.

16/12/07 7:30 AM

 We’ve half sailed and half motor sailed through the night.  Wind is currently SE at less than 10 knots.  It does give the engine an assist. The Wind forecast looks as though we may be motor sailing most of the rest of the way.

11:00 AM

24 Hour Run 196 miles. Including 8 1/2 hours of motor sailing for 74 miles.

Current ETA tomorrow Monday @ 9:00 AM, however we’re motor sailing at over 9 knots at present and will probably won’t keep it up all the way, but the ETA is definitely tomorrow AM sometime.