Humble apologies - late again. There is just so much to do out here, most of it unproductive, that occasionally even the daily position update cannot be completed on time. I could of course just put the position on the map and, come to think of it, that would be the best bet and we can then follow up with all the enthralling news subsequently for your bed-time reading.

Last night the trade winds deserted us and the engine was back in action. I think its to do with the low pressure system to the north of us. We had very light wind of variable direction until a heavy downpour came through and we would get a brief blow from the south east. The rain shows up well on the radar and there appeared to be a south east - north west line of it that we were in for some while. The first heavy rain was at midnight just as I came onto my watch and the immediate response was for the radio to transmit a distress call. We traced the fault to the handset in the cockpit (the one we were having difficulty transmitting from) and it must have been water getting into the unit or its connection on the binnacle. The distress call stopped as soon as we removed the handset and on the basis that no-one responded and we haven’t seen any search and rescue aircraft assume that no-one heard it. The other problem with the rain is that it was coming up from behind. Normally when it is raining we can snuggle under the forward part of the cockpit and remain nice and dry. This time the rain was sweeping the full length of the cockpit and down through the companion way into the cabin. So we had to put the washboard in and close the hatch and I had to don my relatively new foul weather gear bought at the Southampton boat show in anticipation of this trip. Sadly my shorts were soon soaked through from the leaking trousers and my arms wet from the leaking jacket. Not good Mr Gill.

As a result of the noise from the engine even Steve was unable to sleep in the rear cabin and so spent most of this morning catching up in the saloon. With the onset of a little breeze Annie went up to the foredeck and adjusted all the lines on the pole in preparation for hoisting the cruising chute. This we then accomplished with, I am pleased to say, more hand signals than verbal communication ( (ie. shouting). By the time it was set the wind had strengthened and come around to the south which meant that it really needed to be attached to the bowsprit rather than the pole (the pole is better for the wind from behind, the bowsprit for the wind from the side). So down it came again and the moment it was safely tucked away in the fore cabin the wind decreased and came back from behind. Steve has come back into the land of the living and is keen to put the chute up again, this time attached to the bowsprit. This will involve rigging an alternative preventer for the boom which is not really a problem as we can use the multi purpose sheet for the staysail run through the cleat at the bow and back to the preventer line permanently attached to the boom. At the moment we are using the pulley attachment to the bowsprit for the preventer but it is also used for the tack of the cruising chute (“tack” - the bottom corner of the triangular chute attached to the pole or bowsprit). I feel a dedicated blog on this topic may be necessary. So, you see why there is so little time for things other than sail changing?!

We have been aware that there is a rowing race across the Atlantic ongoing but had no idea of the route until this morning when Chris and Julia emailed to say that the rowers were somewhere in our vicinity. It would be great to come across one or two and go over for a chat so we have asked for more detailed coordinates to be sent. Rowers always write about the sharks and whales and so on that they encounter. Lucky them. Apart from the brief visit from the Dolphins and a a few birds we have seen nothing.

And now, a couple of hours later, we have the cruising chute flying from the bowsprit. We are making about 5kts in 10kts of breeze which isn’t too bad. Its lovely and sunny again and if it stayed like this for the next week all would be well.However, we know that bad weather is on the way and my inclination is to head a bit further to the south to make sure we avoid running into the depression itself and westerly wind. Annie, amazingly, is keen to maintain our current course (the shortest) and if we get 30kts wind then we will just go faster to Antigua, albeit heading south in the process. Its amazing what more sleep (she has to be woken to start her watch now) and no seasickness can do!