Intrepid Bear - Halfway marker

During the course of the night we crossed another landmark point for us...the halfway marker. For some time the Cape Verdes offered a bolt hole if we had any problems to deal with on the boat. In passing the 1,400 mile marker, it is with some nervousness that we appreciate that this door has been firmly shut and that regardless of what is thrown at us, the only option is to head West towards the Caribbean.

For some time now the only company we've had are the shoals of flying fish that literally fly to get out of our way. Some make it, others impale themselves on various parts of the boat leaving us with a morning chore of clearing the deck of dead fish each morning. This makes sitting out on the helms more interesting - you never know if you're going to get a direct hit! We've been told that they're not particularly tasty so they're quickly thrown back in the sea before they start wafting their rotting smell across the decks. Sadly these are the only fish we've been catching. Given our lure loss rate we've been less quick to put out the lines, particularly when we're surfing down some waves at anywhere between 11 and 15 knots. In terms of boats, the only boat we've spotted in the last 3 days was a motor vessel some 12nm away - we only spotted it on the AIS, never got a visual. I'm sure this will change as boats all start to converge on St Lucia.

Fortunately the kids have now firmly got their sea legs. This said, they still sleep upstairs in the saloon. I suspect that they just know it's the quietest and coolest place to be - downstairs is like being subjected to a constant hammering as the waves slap the underside of the boat and the lines squeal on the winches...particularly when we surf down the bigger waves. These big rollers threaten to engulf the boat from a distance and then just roll under the boat. The kids have now found the play dough and are providing us with an endless selection of menus as we play restaurants - steak and chips was my favourite though the pizza looks appetising too. We realised that more entertainment was in order when we asked them what their favourite bit of the day was. They all responded "sailing". Wow, we'd thought we'd made a real breakthrough only to be told that this was because "it's the only thing we do"!

In terms of niggles, we're managing to keep them under control. The gremlins who haunted our fridge appear to have got bored so that's now working again. The tears at the top of the spinnaker have been repaired - no black spinnaker repair tape left. Gaspar has been out on the bowsprit to re-attach the furling wire on the reacher (the webbing holding it to the furler had been chaffed through) and reinstate the tack line for the spinnaker. With all this accomplished we have had the spinnaker up again and are making better progress in the 20 knot winds. Fortunately the swell has lessened but still gently prods us forwards.

Looking ahead, we're mindful of the low that will disturb the winds we've been enjoying to date. We may have some very slow days. Still, could be a chance to enjoy a swim and perhaps even throw a lure out. Feels like we're cruising nicely along the motorway with the knowledge that there's a traffic jam ahead. Perhaps our more Southerly route will help...lets see...

Intrepid Bears