Position 16.14.427N 042.34.007W
Our mileage dropped back in the last 24 hours largely due to strong vibrations starting this morning we could feel coming through one of the gearboxes on our port side causing us to stop. We had just pulled up the mainsail at around 7.30am when it started so had to face into the wind - get wet - and take it down again. Donald then donned his smart new diving shorts and a flotation jacket and complete with piece of rope round his waist, mask and snorkel went under the boat to investigate if anything was wrapped around our prop. There was no sign of anything - it was completely clean. There was then an investigation of the other side, nothing again.
We turned back around and set off again only to find the problem was still there. We have lots of olive coloured seaweed floating in long strings we pass and have to go over - the amount is increasing as we head closer towards Caribbean waters. We wondered if this was the cause of our problems but with clean props it seemed hard to put it down to that. We stopped again, revved our engines in reverse and then forward, turned the boat around and set off again and the problem seemed slightly better - then went altogether. So we are now back on track doing about 8kts but have lost quite a bit of time.
The flying fish all around us are called Cosmopolitan Flying Fish. Their flight is a strategy for escaping predators and they can fly over 50 metres. Some can fly quite high too as demonstrated by quite a large one that made it up onto the flybridge! It probably flew off the top of a wave - the swell has been huge overnight although has calmed very slightly today.
The Dolphin / Whale debate from yesterday we think is fixed. We think we saw Atlantic White-sided Dolphins. They grow up to 2.8 metres long and a single calf is born every other year after an 11 month gestation period. There were 2 larger ones and a small one so maybe a small family pod.
In the Med we saw lots of grey spotted dolphins and we think these were probably Pantropical Spotted Dolphins that grow up to 2.4 metres long. It is said to be the most abundant of dolphins with a population numbering several million worldwide. We were pleased a few came by to see us. They are highly gregarious and athletic and huge schools have been seen performing spectacular displays leaping and riding the bow waves of boats - so our Marine Fish & Sea Creatures reference book informs us on board.
We set off from Antibes on 25th October and so will have been on the passage to our final destination Antigua for one month tomorrow. We hope to pass through the half way point of the passage to St Lucia from Cape Verde over the next few hours which will be cause for celebration with a glass of Chateau H2O no doubt as we continue teetotal.
Everyone on board is fine and enjoying the passage.