Nutcracker - Doing a zero

The cabin boy writes:

Hard to credit it but the log for the past nine hours has not moved. We have
sailed nil miles .. nada, nul, nothing, non, niet, zero miles. We may have
moved a handful of them towards St Lucia but that's thanks to a small
favourable current.

Awaiting the noon positions today with some trepidation. If the rest of the
fleet, and especially the southerly boats, are trucking along...aaarrrggghhh
(technical expression). We only have Boxcar in AIS range, about 10 miles
ahead and in the same weather. Despite her showing as steering 017 just now,
however, seemingly drifting further ahead. Mystifying.

The ARC control forecast yesterday noon was full of 'another gale to the
north west', but obviously not a gale in the accepted sense of the word. The
front which went through at about 04.00 yesterday (the 22nd) turned out to
be relatively benign; not much more than 20knts apparent, one reef in the
main, a few drenching but very short showers, and we were back in clear
starlit skies. We did get the promised northerlies and were making 7+ knts
down the track, but sadly only about 8 hours-worth before it started to go
light. Then staysail was furled and from about 20.00 last night the
aformentioned nil vent.

Up at 06.00 for my watch this morning to a decorated saloon and a pile of
pressies. Aw, thank you. Will wait to the lunchtime gathering to open them.
In meantime celebratory orange juice just consumed amid noise of
roll/bang/bang/wash/groan/roll (the boat, not me!).

So for now a very Happy Thanksgiving to Georgia in NY, Josie Max, Connor &
Christy in Seattle, Boris & Liz in Niarobi, Di & Geoff in San Diego - and
all our adoring American fans.

Trying to get there...