Position 20 51.3N 64 36.72W

Wed 6^th May

Into the Atlantic

After a settled night in the Cooper Island anchorage, we woke to damp grey and humid morning, that the forecast confirmed as a rather dirty trough that would be stuck over the Caribbean for a few days.  It did mean good winds for Bermuda, though rather full of rain and squalls, so plan A became plan B and we headed for Sopers Hole to service the engine and take on final fuel and water. Arriving at the marina, the heavens opened, and it stoned rain for most of the rest of the day delivering several inches of water and a dirty brown run-off through the bay – shades of when we were here with Geoff and Val. Still by the end of the day, the decks were clear, dinghy packed and sundry lines, fenders, spare fuel and the outboard stuffed into the shower. A final local meal in Kellys, game of pool and ver beers set the scene for an early night.

By eight on Tuesday, the bowels of the engine were exposed, and just over two hours latyer tucked away again, oil and filters changed and a new impeller coaxed into place. By twelve we were on our way to White Bay on Joost for sandwich lunch and a final swim. This a stunning spot. Ivan shuffled round in his bar pouring drinks (soft only), and at 3.30 sharp Irie steamed slowly through the reef channel after her final stop in the Caribbean islands.

The weather on Joost was great, but more threatening clouds hovered around, and by the time we were a couple of miles clear, the pattern was established – heavy rain squalls, 20 to 30knots of wind and occasional lightening. Still it was from the east and the boat was soon crashing on her way at 7 to 8 knots, bow nosing into the water and spray and rain flying. Darkness fell early due to the clouds and the first night was bit uncomfortable below, though pretty simulating on the two hour helm trickwithe the boat leaping around, torrential bouts of rain and occasional bucketsof water lobbed in from the sneaky rogue wave.

Still, that was last night - we've just had a great lunch, the suns out, a reef's come out of the main and we're cracking on at 7.5 knts. Talking of which, knot of the day - an easy one to start - is thehumble ref knot.

The crew of Irie, and dog

Does Plymouth look like this?