1700 GMT

01 25S 027 29W course 300T speed 5 kts

Yesterday was another fine sailing day with variable cloud and fresh ESE winds. Towards late afternoon we lost another pink squid, my last and best double hook, 1m of 45kg bs wire, 50% of the line and nearly the rod which was whipped out of the holder but this time attached by a restraint. Didn’t really want scary fish for supper anyway. Cloud increased overnight with sheet lightning ahead and a heavy rain squall at 0100. By dawn cloud cover was complete and around mid morning, as anticipated, the wind backed to the ENE with torrential rain and 25+ knot winds – which was not anticipated. That lasted until mid afternoon when the rain stopped and the wind died. So now we’re motor sailing at 5 knots through the ITCZ and expecting to cross the line around 28 55 W about 0600 tomorrow – so champagne and bacon baps for breakfast. All well on board despite the date.