Bridgetown, Barbadoes. Ian and I continue to try and tackle the never ending job list and at the moment we are servicing the engine and continuing to try and repair the steering system which is the biggest worry at the moment.

An engineer, Glenroy Layne, came earlier and he has sorted out half the problem with the steering and Ian has the other half in hand. Glenroy was a good guy, and as well as being a mechanic he was a volunteer firefighter and a first responder and so we had a lot in common.

There are some significant crew changes this week. Andy has returned home for a few weeks but the good news is that he returns the first week in February which is just in time to celebrate his 50th birthday with his family and friends in English Harbour, Antigua.

Steve leaves us on Thursday morning to return to work next week. We will miss Steve and hope that the sailing season ahead goes well for you. A big thanks for all you have done.

Louise, Ian’s friend joins us on Thursday as does Kevin who is aboard as far as St. Lucia.

Ian and I have started jogging again which is long overdue but we have yet to run along the beach without someone either asking whether it’s American or Canadian football we’re playing (we pass a rugby ball between us) or someone kicks us a football and we have some banter for a while.

They are very friendly people.