White Satin - Champagne Sailing

All of our remaining diesel is now reserved for 2 hours a day of engine running for battery charging and water making, which is done with the engine in neutral so as not incur time penalties in the final totting up process for determining finishing positions. Having no spare diesel, we are now reliant on the wind alone for propelling the boat.

Fortunately we are now in the region marked 'Trade Winds' on the charts, and sure enough the winds have picked up very well over the last couple of days. We are speeding directly Westward under mainsail and poled out genoa, with the wind coming from about ENE (which for any land-lubbers means half way between NExE and ExN). The strength of the wind varies between 15 and 20-25 knots, so we are constantly reefing or letting out the sails to maintain optimum speed without too much corkscrewing movement caused by the boat being overpowered. The upshot is that we are currently averaging about 7.5 knots in the right direction and as a consequence are shooting Lewis Hamilton-like from near the back through the field. Late Saturday we passed the half way point in our journey and we expect to pass the 60% point later today. If we assume we make an average of 6 knots from now to the end, we will arrive St Lucia in 8 days which would be mid Monday - hopefully though we will slow down because in our sweepstake I have plumped for 0417 on Tuesday 13th.

Our progress against the rest of the fleet is now monitored graphically every day. This is thanks to Jon 'Professor' Cross's spreadsheet scatter graph, into which the ARC fleet's lat/long positions are pasted. Jon has really Excelled himself! We now know at a glance, for instance, that we are 15 miles from the nearest other ARC boat. Yes, that means we are in a race! 

Reaching the half-way point was a cause for celebration. Although there is no alcohol on the boat (apart from the whisky to accompany the haggis, and the alcohol I manage to suck out of the wet wipes), Quartermaster Vicki had procured 2 bottles of the finest bubbly with half way in mind. The champagne was ceremoniously poured into the most delicate of fluted lead crystal glasses and enjoyed with canapés before dinner. Jon when asked, being slightly hard of hearing, went to get the "canapés" and returned with the Cross & Blackwell variety, see picture.

Our supplies of fresh consumables are now seriously dwindled. Tonight's Fray Bentos pies will be accompanied by our only remaining fresh veg - guess what it is. As we are now out of alcohol, we are considering setting up a still to produce cabbage schnapps.

The weather is generally warm but changeable. Last night we had lightning nearby, so all small electrical items were stored in the oven (it's like a Faraday cage) until the weather improved. Well, nearly all small electrical items that is - Helen's phone was an exception, and got soaked through as it was under an open window that let in much of the rainstorm that followed the lightning. A good test for the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact's claim to be waterproof!

Wildlife spotting continues. Flying fish are all over the place. David has found a couple of dead ones on the deck, but the one that hit me in the chest in pitch black darkness was very much alive. Dolphin sightings are 2-a-penny; giant octopus and blue whale sightings must be just a matter of time.