This morning we have the best conditions since we left Kos on 25 October.

 

The NW breeze backed overnight to give a F4 Southerly breeze now which is giving a beam reach with a boat speed of around 7.5knots.

 

We are on a course of 285M which is also the lay line for Ibiza so let’s hope the forecast continues to show S’ly winds for the next 2 days to let Ceilidh continue to eat up the miles.

 

We are currently around 25NM offshore from the North coast of Tunisia and close to abeam of the Isle de la Galite, the conditions are glorious with blue skies and no cloud cover.

 

Yesterday’s passage was a bit of a mixed bag, we cleared South of Pantelleria on a close hauled Westerly course and ended up being headed on both North and Westerly tacks in only 7knots of breeze. The engine was fired up at 21:00hrs and assisted us over the next 8hours  while we cleared Cap Bon headland on Tunisia.

 

Following breakfast this morning we tackled the code 0 and hoisted our shiny new Gennaker in around 10knots of breeze giving us 8knots SOG.

 

However when we came to do a test furl things did not go so smoothly with a bit of an hour glass effect meaning we had to drop the semi furled sail on to the foredeck and back down the hatch.

 

So our most potent weapon in terms of light weather conditions remains just a prospect to be savoured but I am confident that all the teething problems will be ironed out soon.

 

We are looking for a 5- 10 knot weather window to do further testing.

 

All looks good on my ETA to Ibiza with Mr D &G being far too pessimistic once again!

 

Dave Sturrock