49:53.591n 13:42.979w

Distance to home:  560 miles

Distance run today:  93 miles  

Course 100

Domestic

It’s a month today since we left Bermuda and we reflect on what has been achieved, nearly 3,000 miles sailed, all kinds of weather and several games of rummy played! It is safe to say that this is a unique trip for all of us in not only being away from home for so long but in such confinement and scarcely seeing other human life. Tim and Jez can compare this to the trip across which was a 27 day crossing but they were often accompanied by cruising yachts or cargo ships, this trip seems to be considerably scarce in comparison. 

We discovered a slight issue in the luxury foods department yesterday with regards to our chocolate supply. Only a few days ago we counted the squares and had started rationing to 2 squares each per day. Disaster struck during coffee making last night as Wills discovered that mould appears to have formed on the remaining bars. We hope to have recovered and stored what we can but can’t help but feel a little saddened by this loss.

Last night we enjoyed the last of the tuna, that beast we caught some while back. We froze one quarter and the last two nights enjoyed it in a tomato sauce with rice.

Sailing

A mixed bag again; yesterday we maintained a good average of over 5 knots and into the night we kept a reef in and were able to let some genoa out at the wind eased but today our averages our down to 2-3 knots with a light breeze from the North East, the cloud cover is keeping the temperature low, some sun right now would make the light airs more manageable.

We sent a weather GRIB yesterday so we will be able to assess tomorrow and Tuesday’s winds from that later today. For now we are sailing…but slowly.

Natural History

Pilot Whales were bounding towards us yesterday evening like a pod of dolphins only larger and more rounded and surfacing all in sync, they never quite made it close against the wind and waves.

We are fairly sure we have named the whale spotted a week or so ago (you quickly lose track of time out here). Jez was scanning through one of the many copies of Yachting Monthly on board when he saw a picture of a Hump Back Whale, and there it was, the large white pectoral fin that was immediately recognisable refers to the Hump Back in the Pacific, would someone be able to clarify that they could also be in the Atlantic? Thanks

Today’s Responses

Stuart – Well done on your ride yesterday with a club PB and to Peter who is 84 and set a new national age record with 2h 16m for a 50 mile TT