13:12.78N

035:35.38W

So, the skipper has finally relinquished the keyboard, on the face of it this is a victory for democracy on board and one that the crew have been quietly lobbying for since departure.  However, it is worth noting that reader pressure finally won the day, 3 months of reading Sam’s colourful accounts of boat life has taken it’s toll on those based on dry land, there was a great and unified cry for a change in direction, a new way of thinking, enough of the old guff… in with the new.

Summer Song continues to plug on merrily across the deep blue, we are now closer to Brazil (Recife to be exact) than Africa, though the wind on our backs is still that of the dark continent, indeed it seems at times that you can still smell Saraha, particularly at night when the air seems to be thick and almost dusty.  I have mentioned this to a couple of crew mates, though they just look at me as though cabin fever has set in. Oh well we can’t all understand the workings of the natural world.

Having been frustrated rated by the “light n’ variables” for a couple of days, we are now hopeful that the trades have arrived, Sam announced this authoritatively yesterday morning, only for the wind to drop completely leaving us no choice but to engage the donk for 7 hours.  Fortunately the wind has returned and we are hoping that it will stay with us, and indeed strengthen over the next 2 weeks to St Lucia.   

Fishing the past couple of days has been low key, such was the quantity of meat provided my Fridays 10kg Wahoo, including 13 inch-deep steaks (cross sectional cuts for those interested in preparation), and a vast amount of succulent sashimi, prepared in lime juice and guzzled with grated ginger and soy.  Although a real treat, after 4 consecutive fish meals we have all been feeling a break from protein was required.  Being a Sunday, tonight we are on Frey Bentos pies (I will be angling for the Steak, Alex for the chicken and mushroom, whilst Sam and Graham seem largely omnivorous on the pie front).  The culinary output from Summer Songs galley is quite exceptional, Gordon Ramsey would be proud of the epicurean delights that constantly emerge from down below, highlights to date include Thai Wahoo curry, Tuna sashimi, Maharaja Spinnikah’s (Graham’s) Tomato squid gumboo, Sam’s Cape Verde Spiced goat (goat being replaced by spinach and lentil), various inventive pasta dishes and top of the charts Alex’s Chorizo and bean stew. 

Tonight is party night, we are over half way to the Caribean and a bottle of “shampoo darling” has been put on ice.  We will be donning our glad rags, the excitement is palpable, Sam has even suggested he may wash for the occasion, a rarity indeed.  Graham will report on the revelry in tomorrow’s blog.

Until then, cheerio, I’m off to listen to tales of Sam and Alex’s early courting, which involved sardines, curry and chain smoking apparently… how romantic.