Ayesha II - No fishing today..... 'Gone Sailing'

The trade winds arrived today!With a good 20-25 knts of wind and full sail up we're making great progress to our destination at speeds approaching double figures.The swell comes and goes (ha ha), as much as 3 metres at times making live below decks harder and causing us to stow the fishing lines, but it can't remove the smiles from our faces as we're finally enjoying some champagne sailing.No vessels sighted for two days but some radio contact with 'Ghost'. Good to catch up and swap news - all good with them too.Enjoying the best sunset of the voyage so far, 704NM to go.14'40.438'N048'45.988'W. read more...

Ayesha II - Yesterdays storm

We are relieved to be past the storms and squalls of yesterday.Attached is a picture of the one that hit us, bringing gusts of 40knts+ and a large amount of rain.Not what we bargained for.No damage done and a good clean down for Ayesha II.Boat and crew all doing well.. read more...

Ayesha II - Tradewind sailing!

We've had what's felt like our first real day of tradewind sailng here on Ayesha today. Poled out headsail and one reef in the main we're learning works quite well, today we should average around 6.5 knots, on at that pace we should make St Lucia in ten days! We're far from alone out here, every day has seen other boats, some that keep popping up on the AIS or the horizon. One last night (which will remain nameless!) came a little too close for the watches liking and avoiding action was taken. We've also had a couple of interesting chats over the VHF with some beautiful square rig sail training ships when there's been less wind, we're all looking for the same thing so it's good to compare notes!Fishing (though not so much catching) continues apace with both lines going off together each. read more...

Ayesha II - Halfway!

At 1200UTC today we reached half distance which prompted the celebrations in the attached photo, closely followed by a celebratory beer and a sacrifice (Heineken) to neptune for good luck, fair winds and good fishing.We expect about 1500MN distance to go.The Trade Winds have arrived though are still light at around 10knts.We're progressing under main and poled out Genoa making 7-8knts VMGbig smiles all round. Sailing in company of s/y Surya and s/y Celementina who have been on or just over the horizon for the past 24hrs.014.28.066'N 035.29.618'WDSCF3448. read more...

Ayesha II - Jaws!

A very tranquil Atlantic today, with next to no wind as predicted and the reason for our fuel run to the Cape Verdes yesterday. However we have not wasted the opportunity to stock up the freezer and the picture shows lance with the magnificent mahi mahi he has caught and we shall be having for tea, it was 34 inches long and weighed approx 20lbs!Gloriously starry night last night with numerous shooting stars over a mirror like sea interspersed with the beautiful phosphorence sparkles from the plankton in our wake, just magical.DSCF3446blog2. read more...