40:38.034 N  039:09.983 W

26/06/10

03:00

Just had a weird computer crash.  It was multiplying pages at a phenomenal rate.  It claimed to have 48 applications open. I had to do a hard restart which lost some info.

Nothing like a bit of IT to make your watch go quickly.

We took the spinnaker down just before dinner and managed to wrap some of the  wing strings around an antenna on the first mast spreader.  We got it partially snuffed and lashed the lower section with sail ties to keep the wind out of it. Steve scrambled up to the spreader to clear the strings. We were then able to douse the entire sail and no damage was done. 

The wind has yet to increase—its only Force 4—so with 20/20 hind sight we probably could have left it up.  Out boat speed is probably 2 knots less than it was  with the big sail. 5.8 knots as I type.  This is pushing our ETA  to Wednesday AM, but I’m still hoping the promised wind increase will arrive and we get in Tuesday evening.

It’s still pretty soupy out there although it has thinned and the viz improved significantly.

10:00

We have a slightly lighter shade of all encompassing grey this morning.  We decided to set the spinnaker but the sock  wouldn’t clear the bunched up wing of the sail. It appeared to be because of a twist but when the twist was removed and the sail re-hoisted it was clear that there was some damage to the wing and the strings which hold it in position.  Presumably this was a result of last nights snagging.  We can’t risk using it without a repair.  Hopefully there is a sailmaker in Horta who has some experience of thee ParaSail Spinnakers.

Meanwhile we’re making just over 7 knots with the normal rig and the ETA has improved to the afternoon of the 29^th, which will of course change again.

12:00

The lighter shade of grey turned out to contain rain, which has been dumping on us for the last 45 minutes or so.  It’s easing now.

16:00

The dolphins just paid us their daily visit.  Obviously they’re checking on us. The wind has notched up a bit and we’re currently making over 8 knots. This should carry on for a couple of days. We may run out of wind for the last 150 miles.  Yesterday’s run was 169 miles, we would have done better if we hadn’t been faffing around with the Spinnaker for so long. The grey is a tone or so lighter.  Still monochrome. 506 miles to go.