28:07.732N 15:25.546W

 

Date: Friday, 19 November 2010

 

Preparations are on-going ahead of the race which starts on Sunday 21 November at 14:00 UTC (same time as GMT).

 

We are in the final stages of loading all of the non-perishable food stuffs including drinks. The water-maker is working well and a new ‘Seagull’ water filter was installed today to make the water almost perfect!

 

All of the yacht’s batteries had to be replaced on Thursday as they had come to the end of their useful life: no chances can be taken on this trip!

 

Testing of the satellite phone has taken place today and this will ensure that the ‘mailasail.com’ email address is working in addition to receiving weather information from the same provider. We have still to test the SSB radio/email/weather system: testing later this evening all being well.

 

The weather has been beautiful today with bright sunshine and 27 degrees centigrade – much warmer than the weather back in Ireland!

 

More diary entries to follow over the forthcoming days and weeks which will hopefully include some photos.

 

All the best from the crew of ‘Ocean Hobo’.

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Today’s dairy entry has been uploaded using the satellite communications.