Wednesday 25th November - Day 3 - Missed opportunities

Following yesterdays success in re establishing the spinacre halyard and shackle all be it 1 meter lower than preferred last night was uneventful -a couple of container ships passed by and we contemplated sail changes at the 4.00am watch change over that we needed to get us back onto the track we have chosen and faster sailing conditions. It has to be said that the nights so far have given us clear sky and a consequent magnificant stary vista - we are sure in a big big place!!!


The sail changes where stalled until daylight (for us 9.00am) they took 1.5hrs, quite physical but rewarded us with further 2 kts speed improvement - we are now back to average 9>10kts and just under half wind speed, we have peaked at 16kts surfing down 3m waves.

Post sail changes day became the story of the "one we did not know had landed" and the "biggest one that got away". We happily repatriated a 4cm flying fish - goodness knows how it got on board must have been a maiden flight!!! perhaps then only to be consumed by the "monster" that attached its self to our "pink Octopus" fishing lure . As i type the boys are now into a few more fish and who know it could be shushi later.


We are now settling into some routine, we are almost a quarter of the way across, in the trade winds and bobbing 4000m above the Cape Verde Abyssal Plain below. The Ocean is 24 degrees and the air temp is in the 30ies during the day and not much cooler at night (shirts are off girls!!!). Temp set to rise as proceed further on into the ARC.


On the food front things proceeding well - Pork Chops in Cider with mash last night. Mrs Taylor's beef bourgignon for mains with fresh mango for pud is tonight menu - (it was excellent thanks Mrd T).

Sad news is that the white wine boxes we bought in Las Palmas turn out in fact to be white Sherry!!!! yuck and 6 of our lemon stock have been lost to mold but the rest of our provisions appear fine and dandy.

With some of the wear and tear we have experienced we have been finding out how to create an "Alton Towers" theme park on a 57. Rides so far include: climb the mast, Straddle the boom & spinacre pole. Next is sitting on the wing of the Parasailer,. If you have any ideas please send a comment, best one wins a signed photo of the ride and a tin of soup coz we have 78 to get through.

Anyway we are all well and enjoying the adventure. Keep you all posted love to all.

This blog by Martin