DAY 5 SUNDAY NOV 23

 

Position at 1700 GMT:  22deg 43.48 north; 24 deg 22.74 west

 

Approx 610 miles covered, over 20% of the way there

 

A typical relaxing Sunday: full English breakfast of sausages, bacon, mushrooms, eggs, beans. Then afternoon tea with kiwi sponge cakes. And this evening we’re having a Chinese meal.

 

Only thing missing is the Sunday papers – aren’t we lucky

 

We crossed a time zone going west so we’ve had to put our watches back an hour. Very encouraging.

 

We caught up with a French yacht that’s in the Canaries-to-Martinique race and had a nice friendly chat with the skipper. Then we left him trailing in our wake as we’re flying along at 8 knots

 

Today the Spanish and Canaries courtesy flags were lowered and the skipper raised a huge Cross of St George which we reckon can be seen from over a mile away. If there was anyone out here to see it, of course.

 

Weather is very hot, we’re only wearing shorts a lot of the time. But some of us are looking forward to hot chocolate on the night watches.

 

The stars are incredible. So many, so bright and seemingly so close you can touch them.