So far since leaving Brixham in October I have completed over 7200 miles. I have completed 2160 since leaving Antigua with approx 300 to go before the Azores. I'm now out of rum, Nelson would never have allowed that. I'm also on my last pack of jelly sweets which I doubt will last the day. Got plenty of water but not enough to get to uk without a stop over in Azores. Everything else I could probably just about manage at a push.

I have fixed the fuel leak with a fantastic and effective bodge. I felt uncomfortable knowing it was there especially as I will be motoring for a couple of days as the winds reduce to nothing from later today possibly until late on Wed early Thursday. The bodge (emergency repair) entailed placing a small amount of araldite onto the top threads of the leaking union. By doing while the engine was still hot it ran nicely into the first couple of threads creating a seal as it hardened. Well that was the theory and it seems to have worked.

Today I have constructed a set of ear defenders from a pair of thermal socks and some elastic which muffles the worst from the engine noise.