Sat 3rd December
Crossed the 1000mltg line at 0100. Quietish night with some squalls but steady progress. Sat morning perfect for a spot of proper downhill sailing. Time to divest ourselves of our awkward 3 sail set-up and stick up one of those big coloured lightweight jobby sails that one sees in jaunty seaside photos. Our feverish on-deck activity spurred on by the sight of an enemy vessel on the distant horizon. Got the thing up safely this time and away we went burbling along looking very professional apart from the mayhem on deck. David threw together an interesting spicy hot choritzo and tomato broth to celebrate and revive the crew.
Afternoon in lightish airs with good progress. Nick practising on the expensive Frieberger sextant was able to confirm we were after all in the Atlantic, which was reassuring. Enemy vessel now dipping astern, due to our extreme vigilence and dextrous line handling techniques.
Turned out to be a most pleasant afternoon and evening I can tell you. Had jolly nice sundowner aperitifs of black olives and glasses of stale plastic sangria while discussing Hemingways haunts, Shrodingers cat, Heisenbergs U/P, the Gaia hypothesis, and the desirability of Angela Merkel as a future partner for the skipper.
Last minute flurry as decision made not to fly big dangerous bag thingy on into darkness as this could lead to broken finger-nails, and totally destroy our make-up, and do other bad things late at night. So big sail down and genoa up and poled out to leave us goosewung and secure for the night. Still sooshing along at 6.5, so OK.
Mike does Chili using spanish corned beef and some old tomatoes and red peppers he found in the forward chain locker. Meanwhile David pours his can of 7-up on his lap. He needs the excitement.
Early hours Sunday AM after a beautiful evening at sea, although rolling like billyo all night. Our sails translucent in a ghostly glow as we sail down-moon into a sepia landscape of silver shadows. Hopefully Sunday will allow us put up the big jobby again as we need to get as far west as possible before meeting up with a reported patch of light airs which could stop us in our tracks.
The Raparee Crew