The only bad thing that happened yesterday was that
the knob 'fell' off the trash bin draw in the galley. I think I'll get Ian to
repair it. He has a degree in agricultural engineering, which could come in
handy. Knobs must fall off tractors all the time. Ian is an Ulsterman
with the demeanor of a terrier on speed. The noise of a winch in
the middle of the night and he's at the companionway steps in seconds wanting to
know what's happening. "Nothing Ian, just tightening the sail. Go back to bed".
Or the motor is is turned off, "S'happening? Why has the motor
stopped?" "We switched it off Ian Go back to bed". Keen as mustard he is.
Does more helming than anyone else and when there's a job to be done he's
there, spanner and oily rag in hand. Top chief engineer and knows a
thing or two about sailing too. Fixing the knob on the trash drawer could be the
most exciting thing to happen today. Believe me, there are more interesting
'Highs'" to be had than the Azores 'High'. We are trapped windless on an oily
sea going nowhere. Or we would be but for that infernal machine - the engine.
'Nough said about that yesterday. What's more the sea here appears to be totally
fishless. Two lines out all day yesterday yielded absolutely nothing. Not to be
detered Michael, the fisherman, is already at it again - fishing that is. The
only saving grace of the Azores 'High' is that it appears to be a haven for
dolphins. They appear from nowhere, play around for a bit and then disappear
again. Their antics liven things up now and again but with over 700 miles to go
what we really need is wind - and
chocolate.