Position 17:36.45N 023:35.35W

 

Another testing day for the weather.  We have had no wind (motoring at slow speed to conserve fuel), light wind (A sail  set and worked well for at least 1 hour till the wind shifted), full genoa Etc Etc.  After some thought we decideed that our preferred route took us past the Cape Verde Islands, so we would stop to refuel and renew some provisions.  With full fuel, and perhaps a couple of extra cans, we could motor at 6 rather than 4.5 knots, and given the forecast light winds may not lose any time overall.  Added bonus, we would be on land for Toby’s birthday.

 

So, believing the weather forecasts we had, we took a route east of the rhumb line to avoid an area of high winds (25 kn+)  So what did we get?  Since 10.00 pm last night we have been in winds of 30 – 35 Kn, with a building swell, and there are no signs of it abating.  And it is still not shown on any of the forecasts!!.  Two plus points – we will get to port quicker (but at night tonight), and Andrej is immensely enjoying himself hand steering on his Name Day.  Minuses outweigh –uncomfortable, and sleep / eat (and writing blogs) Very difficult.

 

Yesterday we caught our second mahimahi – smaller than the first (which I am assured was at least 75 cms not the 40 I stated previously) and saw a whole load of fish jumping in the water in front of us as we travelled under motor.  Fish thrown back in the sea, as was a lot of fruit which had started to go mouldy.

 

And so to the Acts of Supreme Stupidity (round of drinks in St Lucia by the perpetrator)

1.  Sailing a small plastic boat across 3000Nm of ocean  (all 5 of us)

2. Falling asleep with a mug of coffee and spilling it on a mattress

3. Lashing the mattress on the bow to dry when we were in a head sea

4 Spilling nail varnish on the cockpit teak

5 Having a watermaker fitted which shares the same inlet as the engine, thus preventing it being used at the very time it would be best used