Annie - Blog Day 26

Graham wants me to tell youthat it is blooming hot today. The temperature is 33 degrees down below here in Annie. And guess what? There is no wind. Luckily, as you know, we actually got the engine going yesterday so we are not going to turn it off again - just in case. We are about 85 miles away now and suddenly we are feeling rather sad to be finishing. Last night we had a magnificent sky and Peter and I saw many shooting stars between us. His best one was big and green and he swears it made a hissing noise. How he could hear that above the engine I have no idea! My best one had a tail like a comet. What more can I say. This will be our last blog (unless something untoward happens) and I just want to say how much I have enjoyed blogging and. read more...

Annie - Log Day 25

When will we ever learn? so the song goes.How true. Last night we decided to have our second nearly there celebration as everything seemed to be going fine. HA! We had crossed 55 degrees west and the miles were beginning to drop below 300. So the wind died away in the night and guess what? The engine wouldn't start. So there we were drifting about again. At least this time we didn't have to come to terms with the hydrovane becoming a useless piece of metal attached to the transome, because we had already been through that one. But this time instead of deep gloom we decided to have a cup of tea at 0600 and see if that would do the trick. And it did do the trick - the engine started. Who says magic doesn't work? I think we are finally past having conversations about how long it would take. read more...

Annie - Log Day 24 by Peter

Hurrah We've just gone thru our 300 miles to go to our way point mark (assuming we can actually sail the shortest course, umm...) Anyway, tonight we break out the miniature G&Ts and that nice cigar I've been saving for this occasion. It's very hot and the wind wants to be dead astern, not something Annie is very impressed with. Today we really hung out the bunting by washing our smalls and other items of clothing that we've worn damp for days. We've stopped talking about pantries, by-the-way, and started talking about old fashioned laundries  instead. The kind that sent your dad's shirts back in a heavy cardboard box, all starched and smelling fresh - nothing like what's hanging off our guard rails at all. Peter . read more...

Annie - Blog 20

Well, what an eventful 48 hours we've had and what a sense of humour failure I've had! The scene: Thursday 1700. The winds died down and became flukey. Then we hit a squall and thought good this will keep us going. Much merriment as we decide to have our celebratory drink a little early. Then, as the light faded, and I've now learnt that fading light is always the time when if things are going to go wrong, they will, the wind completely died and we were left wallowing around. The sea was oily calm so we thought we would motor on to try to find the wind.. Switched on the engine - nothing. We took it in turns to see if one of us would be lucky. Nothing. Graham then thought as we weren't sailing the hydrovane should be disabled. He found that in a short time of lolloping around it had been. read more...

Annie - Blog 19

We are now just about 3/4 of the way to St Lucia - hooray - and now our goal  is in sight Graham has decided that there is enough fresh water to do some  washing. Which is very good for you Sheena, as he was contemplating wearing  some items of yours! I'm looking forward to a large rum and coke as my 3/4  celebratory drink. We are going to celebrate once we cross 50 degees west,  soon! Excitement last night when at 2100 Peter spotted a boat. This is the first  we've seen for about 2 weeks. He got on the radio and tried to call them up  but got no response. They were gone in about 45 minutes and we were left  again to the flying fish and the occasional bird. Graham has become quite protective about his/our bit of empty ocean and  wasn't excited. read more...