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Aretha - Day 3. 12 19 North. 67 18 West




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> It’s 00:30. I’m on watch alone. It’s peaceful and quiet. We are running 6 lots of 2 hour watches during the night from 8pm to 8am so each person does 4 hours on and 8 hours off. It seems to be working well and we are well rested.
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> Highlights from the last 24 hours:
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> 1) The biggest Tuna landed so far on board Aretha. We weighed it at 11 lbs. It took a good half hour to bring it in with the boat slowed right now to 1 knot. That’s the next 2 days lunch taken care of at least.
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> 2) Nichola and Caroline doing a full mornings school yesterday with Bluebell and Columbus. It’s not without back to school groans but we are getting there.
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> 3) The breeze has filled in some more and we have a steady 12-15 knots and are making 7-8 knots boat speed towards the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao). The sea is flat calm (as it has been since we left Grenada) and we have a flat deck which makes onboard life easy.
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> 4) The generator (hereafter known as George) has decided to have a strop with us. George will start but then shuts down after 10 seconds. We can’t figure out why and have been working through the manuals crossing off the reasons why. We’ve emailed Oyster and are awaiting their advice. The generator charges the batteries which powers the boat and gives us the power for the water maker. Or rather it doesn’t right now. As someone once said to me, in life you never get rid of problems, you just get a better quality of problem. This one is certainly making us think. All ideas gratefully received.
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> 5) To charge the batteries, we can run the engine. We’ve done that today and noted no more water in the engine compartment. Thats good news as is the fact that the new engine mixer elbow has been ordered via Oyster and is on its way to Pip to bring to Panama with her.
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> 6) It’s hot. Nothing but good news. Sitting here in shorts and T Shirt and its still warm.
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> 7) We passed the Islas Los Roques - it was about 20 miles South of us some 6 hours ago - we saw their flashing light every 10 seconds. Meant to be some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world. Save that one for another circumnavigation when we have more time.
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> 8) We’re eating well. Chicken stir fry for supper, Tuna and Salad for lunch, toast and cereal for breakfast.
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> 9) More breeze forecast up ahead (lots of it!) so we should pick up the pace soon. Looking forward to exploring the San Blas Islands.
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> 10) Sorted our 300 plus world paper charts today. Fascinating to see some were last surveyed in 1898 - beware of inaccurate data! We truly are connected with history and can imagine those charts being drawn by hand and the crew measuring depths with a lead line.
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> 11) First squalls of the trip spotted. 3 passed 1-2 miles to port of us. No room for complacency and we need to be ready to dodge them if needed.
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> 12) Values prizes won today by Nichola (for cleaning the engine bilge with good grace and no fuss) and to Bluebell for being outstanding behaviour and helpfulness all day long.
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> 13) Willow has a sniffle, has scratched a bite (and made it sore) and a blister on her foot. She flits between happy and grumpy. Understandable really and she went to bed early tonight.
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> 14) Columbus has Tintin books out and ready to read these tomorrow.
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> Think that catches it all from Team Aretha.
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> 800 more miles to go to San Blas. 330 done since Grenada.
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> As always, it’s lovely to hear from you all and all replies shared at breakfast with all the crew.
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> Over and out from Team Aretha.

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