11:56.10N 49:11.33W

 

Now had three days of perfect weather: 18-21 kts, seas abating and guess what: Chris and Brian now complaining about too much sunshine!

 

Trawling line is out - nothing yet – although what happens if we do catch a big one is going to be interesting. We have a rather flimsy net, no gaff and I’m not convinced at Chris’s theory about giving the undoubtedly upset and thrashing hunter a splash of gin.

 

After only seeing one ship since leaving Mindelo, we saw 2 yesterday; things are starting to get a bit crowded out here. The flying fish continue to insist on landing on our deck. Average morning count is around 20. They don’t land on us during the day; even in bright moonlight they obviously can’t see us.

 

Only down side at the moment is that we are doing a lot of hand-steering since the Hydrovane (the wind self-steering) broke. We do have an auto pilot but it struggles in the significant following seas we have had recently.......and it is very power hungry. Mind you, steering makes the night watch fly-by and sleep comes quick after 4 hours of helming.

 

Bombay Bicycle Club’s ‘Open House’ is at full blast as we truck along 12N towards the Spice Islands..........and it’s afternoon Tea & Cake in the cockpit time.

 

All in all Team Toots is well..... and the smiles are getting wider........and wider......we are on the down hill stretch now – yes!