Picked up the trade winds which somebody had mislaid. This was on the 15th day and at 14 degrees North – perhaps 600 miles South of where we had hoped to find them! It is a bit more difficult than finding the car keys.

 

Since then the motion of the boat has changed to a constant yaw in a quartering sea. Cooking is now in a different dimension and the angle at which we are able to sleep has changed.

 

Another fish and this time on Conor’s magic lure. This was identified as a ‘Wahoo’ – surely you all keep some in the freezer? It was perhaps 15 kilo and with a firm pink flesh. Originally we had difficulty identifying it but we are now confident that it is  also known as a Kingfish and is of the mackerel family. Indeed it is so well known that it appears in one of Rick Stein’s cookbooks.

We have had 4 main meals out of it and one was a curry. Unfortunately Henry produced the curry before we found the Stein recipe and so what should have been mild Goan curry turned into a vindaloo. We have two ‘heads’.

 

Conor produces bread to die for on a regular basis and Marion keeps us all out of the biscuit tin. She has worked a miracle with provisioning.Vegetables are now gone. Apples and onions reliable. We had a beautiful mango two days ago and yesterday a fabulous melon. The ‘green bags’ (available from the Toucan souvenir shop- and also Lakelands and produced in America by ‘Everts’ have preserved the vegetables well.

The leg of cured Iberian ham was a terrific resource. We are still eating it from the vacuum packs in which slices were kept.

There are plenty of potatoes and eggs left and pasta galore which we all hope to see in another delicious Tuna bake from Simon who has shown exemplary diligence (Duke of Edinburgh gold award?) in the domestic department- just as well as otherwise he would be secretly hoisting coloured sails in order to get back into his racing mode.

 

We saw a sad lonely egret two days ago and it seemed he wanted to land but was frightened by the wind turbine (electricity generator).

Just as well as even the wizard of Padstow has not yet go round to a recipe for stewed egret.

 

 

In order to create some competitive amusement Toucan proposed to the other boats in our radio network a daily competition. Each boat was invited to contribute a daily line for the carol ‘the Twelve Days of Christmas’. The idea is that we collect the submissions and next day announce the winners. When we get to the other end then we will be able to sing it at the arrival party. So far the words are:

 

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me

A Porpoise in a Crosstree

 

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Two Light Airs and A Porpoise in a Crosstree

 

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Three Drenched Men, Two Light Airs and A Porpoise in a Crosstree

 

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Four Killer Whales, Three Drenched Men, Two light Airs and A Porpoise in. a Crosstree

 

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Five Flying Fish

Four Killer Whales, Three Drenched Men, Two light Airs and A Porpoise in a Crosstree

 

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Six Sudden Squalls, 

Five Flying Fish

Four Killer Whales, Three Drenched Men, Two light Airs and A Porpoise in a Crosstree

 

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Seven Sea Sick Sailors, Six Sudden Squalls,

Five Flying Fish

Four Killer Whales, Three Drenched Men, Two light Airs and A Porpoise in a Crosstree

 

We believe that the ARC office are putting it out on their web site for people back home.

 

We dare to sing this over the radio each day. Sadly we may have been misunderestimated as there are other boats out there who are not English and who have chosen to refudiate our efforts. They have responded by singing Swedish carols German drinking songs and in the case of  a Canadian boat a very impressive syncopated guitar solo. Watch this space for future X factor winners.