Some good news and not so good news.
The good news. With winds well into the 20's we have made great progress over the past couple of days, making 168 nm in the last 24 hours. With the wind set to continue we are confident in continuing good progress. Just one reef in the main overnight has still enabled us to keep up decent speed.
The not so good news. Problem no:1 After a continuing set of issues with the generator, and following carrying out a number of tests provided by the installer, we have concluded that the generator has stopped producing power. Problem no: 2 - the watermaker has just filled the water tank with salt water, rendering it undrinkable, but probably OK for washing etc. until it runs out. With that in mind, we need to alert those there to meet us at the dockside of a certain aroma on our approach but which may be discernible way before then.
Although these represent significant problems, we have enough water on board for the rest of the passage. With the generator out of action though, we need to use the boats engine for power generation and this consumes quite a bit more. We should be OK for diesel though, as we still have half a tank remaining with another 150 litres spare.
We are now on a course pretty much due west again, but with windage and current this is giving us a little south in our track which is good. Half way point should be achieved some time later this evening hopefully - bubbly is on ice!!
Despite above issues, crew remain positive - it is what it is and we have to work with it. On the bright side, the ocean has been quite magnificent today with some sizeable swells, and it's oh so blue. As this is being written we have sausages onions and bread in the oven, Ian is having a wee kip (apart from Roger, his other nickname is Rip, as he sleeps for England) Brian and Tim are up top taking in the sun and sea.
A note re our skippers general well being - I have just trodden on his toe, which has taken his mind off his knee, which took his mind off his hand, which took his mind off his elbow - so he's an even happier chappie now. We aim to please.
Rhumb over - N18.59 W 36.36 (half way is 37.30 approx)