Current position "22:44.00N 15:29.28W". Now approaching the southern tip on Gran Canaria. Today was nerve-wracking as well as sad to see Maggie and the kids away. Pics you can see show Chris working last minute adjustments to our fruit and veg hammock (now loaded up!), and then the crew, fully Shell kitted-out for the start, and then the wave-goodbye party. Once on the start it was controlled chaos. We held back to make sure we didn’t cross the line early or end up with those in a panic around the start line. We crossed at 13:04 hrs, 4 mins after the start gun – the attached picture was taken around that time and shows boats all around us. Finally you see us a few minutes ago as we approached the southern tip of the island. We went rather slowly at first, with about 15 knots of wind around the start, playing it safe for the acceleration zone of faster winds we’ve just been through – these went close to 30 knots and we peaked with a boat speed of 10.2 knots. Right now the acceleration zone winds have died off and we’re about to launch the spinnaker.

Most of the fleet have reached out towards the East, headed towards Morocco; they must be betting on stronger winds over there – may be true, but they’ve got further to go – let’s see...

Finally you can see “Basil”, our plant of the same name, suspended to keep him from getting bashed (this isn’t going to work!), with the Texan flag still flying from the starboard flag line!

So this is it! 20 days plus / minus to go to St. Lucia!