Just after last posting, all was calm - and then we were hit by a sudden squall which caught us off guard.  All’s ok, but we were all a bit ruffled by it.  The squall passed quickly but we are now all on alert for the next one.   As we are going downwind that means watching out behind.  

The only thing we can do when one hits is to reef in the sails, but it takes us a while to reef the main sail, so we’ve decided to keep it reefed right in for the time being.  But because the wind is now much lighter between squalls, sadly this means we’re making slower progress. There’s also a heavy swell which rocks the boat side to side and flaps the sails in light winds. Very uncomfortable and not good for the sails either, but we can’t think of an alternative for now. 

At least everyone else seems to be going slowly too… it’s not just us!  

So an unsettled night for Qing.  We are all realising just how far we still have to go.

And the winds were still light at dawn today with a grey and wet sky and the ever present concern about approaching squalls.  ‘orrible!  We’ve alternated between port tack and starboard tack  to try to find the most comfortable motion, and resorted to engine on occasion as well, but that’s not much better.  We have at least maintained around 5 to 6 knots in roughly the right direction… most of the time. 

Things perked up around after midday.   We had salad for lunch and the sun came out.  The mid-atlantic now looks the way it should, even if the swell is still a bit on the big side.  We also completed our seven hundredth mile - that’s a quarter of the way there (oh boy!)

To celebrate, Tristan put his fishing lines out after lunch and after hooking another tantalising fish-that-got-away triumphed in landing a beautiful green/yellow mahimahi.  A really huge one!  No, really it was! 

Sea has also calmed right down now and the sky looks clear.  We’re under engine (noisy) but at least we can relax for a bit. Fresh fish and chips for supper tonight.  Might even have a beer too!

Have fun at CCF F&H.  Glad to hear the garden’s coming on!