12:39.40N 30:20.36W

 

A  rough and eventful night.

 

At dusk we started to get gusts of 28 kts and the sea was building.  With 2 reefs in the main, decided to roll in some of the genoa.  No joy, the roller was jammed.  I went forward, saw the problem and spent the next half hour at the front.  Eventually rolled the genoa to hanky size just as it got dark.  By 0100 the wind was topping 31 kts.  All hands on deck to put in the third reef.  Of course, as soon as we did the wind dropped to 20kts but decided to leave the reefs in for the night. 

 

For the past 12 hours the seas have continued to increase and the wind has been yo-yoing between 19 to 32 kts.  Our speed going between 3.5 to 7.5 kts depending on where we are on the wind scale. We’re glad we have come this far south as the wind is even stronger further north.

 

The skies are once again overcast and apart from the temperature we could be in the English Channel.  So far we have only had 2 days of what I expected to be trade-wind sailing in blue skies!  We are tired but still smiling.

 

This morning we found about 30 tiny flying fish all over the boat.  We’ve cleared up the ones in the cockpit but are leaving the ones caught in various places on the foredeck until the seas ease off a bit.

 

Not seen any shipping for 3 days now; definitely feel as if we are in the middle of nowhere. 

 

Chris and Brian not quite feeling like eating proper meals right now; a shame as I’m missing a good curry .  Wonder if we will feel like a swift drink on New Year’s Eve.  At the moment that is probably unlikely!