02:52N 82:30W

 

We knew the wind wouldn’t last and sure enough, around 9pm last night, it deserted us.  We still had current so tried to keep Bandit moving along but the winds from the previous days had pushed up a swell and without much forward momentum we were wallowing like a pig in mud.  So, with much reluctance, it was out with the steel spinnaker.   Luckily the current was good so we only had to motor at very low revs to keep our boat speed up.

 

This morning there was still no wind – in fact the only wind in the area came from Bruce on Australian cat Remi De blowing out the candles on his 50th birthday cake.  Net control Catherine on Southern Cross played DJ and managed a cleverly cued “They Say It’s Your Birthday” from the Beatles at the star of the net.  Listening to the others on our morning net it seemed everyone was frustrated by the wind disappearing and everyone motoring.  Last night as the wind was dying we were all adamant we wouldn’t start the engines, but when the sails flog and the boat rolls things get pretty uncomfortable.   We update this blog and plot our position at midday and right now – still absolutely no wind.

 

We’ve been surprised at the lack of wildlife.  There have only been a couple of birds and nothing in the way of marine life – no whales,  dolphins or sharks and, so far today, definitely no tuna, wahoo or mahimahi taking our lure.

 

On and on we trundle towards to Galapagos.