12:43N 32:58W

 

PG (Parental guidance) recommended. 

 

The reason for the PG warning is because we are about to explode the myth of Christmas.  There is no Santa.  For those of you out there who still cling to the belief, hang out stockings and pin up the mistletoe, we can tell you that we know there is no such thing.  The reason we know is because we spent the entire night (Christmas Eve) with our eyes glued to the sky looking for his sleigh heading from downunder back up to the northern hemisphere and hate to report there was nothing.... (oh the joy of night watch).  Lots of stars, some very bright planets. a few satellites and the odd shooting star but no sign of Rudolph, Blitzem, Prancer, Dancer and crew.  In fact the only sign of life was the odd flying fish landing on deck.  Miffed as we were that Santa did not drop in (surely he would have been hungry mid Atlantic?) we didn’t let it spoil our day.  The weather did that for us.  About 4am the confused swells we’d been expecting arrived, along with some squalls and we went from a 30 knot gust of wind to nothing....and back up to 15 – 18 again with 2-3 metres of very lumpy seas.  Sleeping was hopeless with constant sail adjustments and Bandit once again doing all she could to buck us out of bed.  Definitely freezer food today and that bottle of Marlborough sav might just stay where it is with the top on!

 

But back to Bad Santa (briefly).  We will give him another go next year when we are in a more user friendly environment (perhaps the reindeers didn’t like the lumpy ocean landing pad?).  Our Christmas stockings that hang limp – except for the chocolates from the Balvenie team (thanks Mark and Amanda – we promise to have a rum waiting for you in Barbados) will be packed away for next year.  Who knows where we will be then?  Hopefully somewhere a little closer to New Zealand!

 

Christmas Eve was successful on the fishing front.  The skipper’s prowess with the lure was proven again and he hooked a good mahimahi.  To be truthful, the lure came from son in law Glen and since we’ve had it, the fishing on Bandit has been fantastic.  So Christmas Eve supper was sashimi followed by fresh mahimahi steaks with lemon, caper and parsley sauce along with spinach salad.  All prepared and cooked in a rolling galley with much difficulty! 

 

We’re hoping this weather system will pass through quickly and we’ll be back to sunny blue skies, puffy clouds and consistent trade winds like the boats are getting some degrees ahead of us.

 

On a high note, it was great to have the sat phone to make quick calls home to mums, sisters and children.