Pos: 14:17N 59:48W
Light winds prevail. Everywhere is virtually still and the water has a glassy sheen.
We are currently in the "Engine Running " period between attempt numbers 173 and 174 to see if we have enough wind to make reasonable progress.
The routine is quite straightforward.
The wind creeps above 5 knots
Rob Ums and Ahs for a bit and then says we had better "give it a go"
The large jib is raised and the main set to a suitably optimistic setting.
The wind drops to about 4 knots, the boat speed perhaps having got to 4.5 knots before falling back to 2.5.
We wait for a while in eager anticipation of a slight gust: and enjoying the quiet of a very slow moving boat with no engine running.
The wind finally gives up and we restart the engine, lower the jib and fetch the main back in ready to do the whole thing again in a few minutes.
It is all a plot really so that Rob wins the bet as to when we arrive.
James, Sarah and I (Steve) are out of it unless we can raise the boat speed to that normally enjoyed by cars on motorways, Alistair is in pole position unless we are delayed by a number of unsuccessful attempts to actually sail, in which case Rob is favourite.
We have been plotting the last few hundred miles in relation to a fictional trip from London to Carlisle. (That being the furthest home of any of us). In variation 2 we went by way of Scotch Corner, stopped at the lay-by at Scotch Corner and are currently just coming along the twisty bit down from the top headed for the Kirby Thore by-pass where the SatNav loses its way.
Supper tonight is the second helping of the fish, Baked and very appetising looking.
As I write sailing has entered iteration number 174.
For those interested, the secret of catching Dorado is to use a pink lure. Honestly..there is no doubt. WE had 8 unsuccessful attempts with other lures but the pink squid given to us by the Finns on our cultural exchange trip was successful within 1 hour. Conclusive proof.
Besides all that, we are all really looking forward to seeing (and walking on) the shore, and rejoining loved ones.
In case the is the last blog from mid-voyage, Thank You to all who have followed our progress and sent messages back.
Love to all
Steve