Friday 1st August
We’ve been motor-sailing all night, on a course of 238’, now 75 miles from our 1st waypoint at S24’30, E157.30. We’re on a close fetch, starboard tack. The wind has seldom been above 10 knots, and is now 6-7 knots, still pretty much on the nose from the WSW. It’s pleasant enough however; sunshine, puffy white trade-wind clouds, a big, rolling, blue sea, flying fish and a few seabirds.
Poor Alex has had a very disturbed night as Phil finds his cabin claustrophobic, and does not appreciate sleeping with Avril the sail. The switching on and off of lights, the clinking of the whisky bottle and the lighting of the fags (his last packet) has not helped, so Phil kindly agrees to swap sleeping space with Alex. By mid-day, Alex has moved in with Avril, bags and all, and is delighted with her new accommodation. In the first 24 hours we’ve done 142 miles.