Position 34:58.2N 44:33.0W

 

It isn’t really my blog today so doubtless Stephen will write the important news.  However, by way of introduction we have had a cracking 36 hours and are now bang on course and flying along at close to 8 knots.  Last night dinner was delayed by the appearance of a large school of dolphins accompanying us in the bow wave and performing the odd minor aerobatic manoeuvre.  The ship’s company is in high spirits and we have our sights firmly set on the Azores with arrival pencilled in for mid next week.  I am amazed to report that Stephen and I have been devouring an alarming amount of chick lit over the last few days but I have now tried to man up a bit with Patrick O’Brian.  We will soon be contenders for the girls’ bookclub although the only deep analysis forthcoming so far has been “I’d hate to be this author’s shrink”.  As I speak the wind has picked up by a good 10 knots so the boat is being powered down to let a squall go through – perhaps it’s time for me to go on deck and Stephen can complete this later. 

 

By now I have got used to Simon’s morning habits as he stirs from his bunk.  He stands up, scratches his growing beard and inspects himself in the mirror.  The only change, as it has got colder, is that he now goes to bed in a one piece, skin tight black nylon romper suit. This morning was slightly different.  As he was doing his stretching exercises, in front of the mirror, he noticed me sitting at the chart table.  He asked “Dont you think I look like Emma Peel?”  I think, but you can never be too sure, that he was joking as he immediately commented that maybe we had been at sea for too long.  The Azores is beckoning..

 

Having got over that nasty shock (no I still cant get the image out of my mind) we settled in to breakfast and enjoyed the rest of a cracking 24 hour run.  By local noon we had covered 180Nm in the preceding 24 hours and the prospect was that the wind would hold.  Some 6 hours later, it seems to be doing just that.

 

The sextant got a good airing today and we reckon that, after an age doing the sums we know where we are (within a few miles).

 

Food continues to be great – the carnivores were at last allowed to try some of the 100 year supply we now have on the boat of Fray Bentos Traditional Steak & Kidney Pudding.  Absolutely delicious and I cant think what all the fuss is about concerning fresh meat.  Perhaps tonight we’ll be allowed to try the “ale flavoured” version.

 

Sadly no more fish yet – we seem to be going too fast.

David, Simon and Stephen