Yesterday we rigged our twin headsails for the first time which only lasted for about  half an hour as then there was no wind.  We decided to motor which helped to charge up the batteries.

Saw lots of dolphins - the Atlantic spotted dolphins, they were doing wonderful acrobatics with jumps up to 6 ft high.  We could see whales in the distance too with their blow holes.

In the evening we were serenaded by George the deckhand playing the guitar.  We had a good evening meal of beef stew in the cockpit, cooked by Roger the cabin boy while Air Traffic and then Joe Bonnamassa were playing on the stereo.  Andrew the skipper was left on watch whilst the crew watched a dvd down below.  After a night of no wind we now have 7 knots true wind  but from a westerly direction and are managing to sail again, this time with the main, jib and genoa.  Hopefully once we get a bit further south the trade winds will start and we will have the wind behind us again.

There is a lot of chat on the VHF radio and we hear a lot of other ARC boats.  Yesterday Celia had a chat to Conor on Toucan.  He seemed to think it was funny that we were motoring but I think before too long most boats were doing the same! 

 

Class 4ES at St Aldhelms School in Poole are watching our progress.  The crew of Alice were delighted with the Bon Voyage card that the class made for them, thank you all of you.  On Friday they are doing an assembly to the whole school about our trip.  We are really thrilled about this.  The other classes are also getting involved now and are going to follow a boat each.  Great news.