Yesterday evening we celebrated the 1000 mile milestone, just as the crew had collected in the cockpit to ease into the usual 6.30 sundowners. We toasted only the second yacht we have seen since Portland, as we crossed paths as they headed slightly further West towards Madeira. A second milestone, reached as I write this at dawn, is sailing over 24hrs on one tack with the spinnaker flying. Blasting along at 8 – 9 knots under a sheet of stars crisscrossed by the Milky Way, with a smooth sea and warm breeze, was a very special experience on top of those we have had so far.

As we head further South, the coast to our East turns in towards Gibraltar, leading to more cargo ships, but fewer sea birds and dolphins. However we were blessed again by at least two whales crossing 100 meters ahead of us – we could persuade ourselves it was a mother and calf.

As there is less to see we have increasingly occupied ourselves with tracking down the various squeaks and knocks that begin to niggle after a while. Nick has done a great job disappearing into various lockers with cans of lubricant spray and when all else fails, blasting ABBA out of the cockpit speakers. Meanwhile Wattie, when not completing his 100 press-ups on the foredeck, is to be found with his ear pressed against the deck or hanging over the side as he pursues his current favourite tapping noise.