Tuesday 1st December - What a difference a day makes!

Monday night shift was going well tanking along at 9 to 10 knots with parasailor (spinnaker) but at 0330 Martin's dongle (a special sacrificial link to attach to the pole) parted and sent the p/s flying. We bagged it quickly and, we thought, successfully 9more later) and resorted to white sails (main and genoa). At dawn tried to goosewing (pole the genoa out on the other side to the main) and the mast fitting of the pole sheared off. The pole missed Andy's shiny head by inches!

So now minus the cruising chute and the spinnaker pole.

Weather turned cloudy and squally and wind veared ESE so headed South for better currents. Because weather unpredictable the loss of downwind sails may not be issue yet.

Had a good lunch so decide to hit the soup mountain (i think we have 64 cans!) and the team settled down to the first episode of the Wire on DVD. 3 of the crew nodded off (as the previous night took it's toll) but 1st Mate stayed the course (AP). Then in a downpour around midnight the pc got wet so delay in this blog due to drying time needed but putting it on the generator for an hour.

Decided to play the long game now (reluctantly!) and try to get their without wrecking any more kit. Hope we haven't lost out too badly to the others, particularly Baghira and Les Papillons (both Beneteau 57's) but we will see.

Many thanks to all of you adding comments, recently Jane, Jayne, Kilo, Peter, Ken and crew, Philip, Julian, Thea et al. Greatly enjoyed by the team here.

Skip. Andy will add recent events.

8am Wednesday

As reported earlier, the last 24hours has seen us suffer some serious setbacks so the mood on board has been one of quiet contemplation. Not now! Skip managed a total of 8 hours sleep last night and is bursting at the seams with renewed enthusiasm for taking these other boats on. His hardy crew stay quiet and wipe sleep from their eyes as they don their deck shoes and protective gloves for the tasks ahead. Unfortunately proper inspection of the parasailor shows a 150cm 'L' shape tear was made when she broke her fastenings. No problem - Skip, Mart and myself set about her with sail tape, needles and thread and within 3 hours she is repaired. Now hoisted with the main, we are making good speed ahead.

Results Time.

Every day at noon GMT all ARC boats are required to call in their positions. Great News. We are 1st in our class of 21, 5th out of the 155 boats in the cruising class and 18th overall in the whole of the fleet of 209. (these results do not allow for handicap correction but who cares!) Beers are around to celebrate - Rob enjoys a cigar.

12.30pm Now the sun is shining, the boat speed is good and all seems well with the world. As I sit in the cockpit writing this blog, I glance to the back of the boat and am presented with a scene reminicent of many a nature programme. Just like seals basking in the midday sun, Steve and Martin are in quiet competition for the most bronzed flesh and their toned, muscular, schwarzenesk bodies roll and twist with the movement of the boat. A sight to behold!

Phil alternates between chapters of his book and the tweaking of his fishing reel permanently positioned at the rear of the boat. Yesterdays fishing excitement led only to the landing of a sizeable plastic bag for Phil so after some general mickey-take and various photographes, lures have now been changed. Fish beware - Phil means business.

Rob is up on deck reading a book and generally looking very distinquished with a now 'full on ARC' beard. Only Rob and Steve are yet to succumb to the razor so are competeting for the honour of being Jasmina's first Santa Claus. Children beware!

The wind is dropping below 7 knots, the speed is too low, I've got to go.....

Love to all back home

Andyx