Sunday 7th March, 2010

After a bit of motoring yesterday though the doldrums we are now flying along again in a good SE wind of 15-20 knots. Much to our suprise it is grey and quite cool for this area and we have a rain squall tonight.   We were visited by a bird who spent all afternoon and last night sat on our pulpit preening itself and then sleeping.  It had a blue bill and was light brown in colour with orange feet, I don't think webbed.  Looking up birds of this area I think it was a young Northern Pacific Gannet although in many ways it had the head of a Blue Footed Booby but not so colourful, when facing us it looked just like 'Big Bird' in the Muppets.  Last night whilst looking at the stars we saw the Southern cross come up.

We have had the fishing line out all day and caught nothing.... 

One of the yachts in our rally has problems with it's mast, with metal fatigue in the clevis pins they think; the cap shroud became free and the mast was in danger of was buckling so they have had to do emergency rigging and can't sail as the wind is so strong.   Another yacht had a fire in it's bilge pump which was put out with no problem but must have been scary all the same especially as they have young children on board.  We have been going around double checking as these things are quite a wake up call.

Tomorrow we hope to cross the Equator, the 'boys' do not know what is in store for them - hope it isn't too rough then as we need it to be calm enough to have some fun!