Ceilidh had a further 8knot average daily run giving us 192NM on the log this morning.

We gybed to the West at 13:45 yesterday having reached latitude 23N and have been making a course of 275M which is on the rhumb line to St Lucia, happy days!

We continue to see fresh NE winds of F4-6 putting plenty of drive in our sails.

We mainly have had 1 or 2 reefs in the main although just recently put in the 3rd reef after a large broach caused some angst among the crew.

We also still have autopilot issues and are hand steering most of the time as our chain drive keeps jumping on the drive sprocket.

We have checked out the steering system alignment and tension once again and are closely monitoring the integrity of the system.

Ceilidh is proving a real handful to steer as any following swell picks up her beamy stern and corkscrews her round into the wind.

There were 7 yachts in the ARC fleet reported either retired or in Las Palmas plus a further 3 re-started yesterday so the conditions have certainly taken their toll.

A couple of points to note, we altered course to starboard to clear round the stern of a fellow Hanse 445 Bluewater 1 around 20:30.

A small leatherback turtle passed close by our stern.

There was some VHF radio chat with fellow ARC yacht Talulah Rose.

So the sailing has been exhilarating again at times but very demanding of our concentration as we keep Ceilidh’s bow pointing West.

Some of the younger crew members are already asking “ are we there yet” !

 

Happy St Andrews day to everyone, we have not yet decided what our celebration will be on board as yet.

 

 

Dave Sturrock