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Abraxas - 27/11/13 Adventure has definately started



Sorry we have been radio silent but there has been a lot going on.  On Monday , we sailed on day and all night, no major issues (that we knew about).  Tuesday was more interesting.  The early morning shift (Gary and Karen) had dolphins arrive first thing who played in the boats wake for 45 minutes.  Later that afternoon, Paulo spotted a fin, not a dolphin but an Orca who checked us out for about 10 minutes.  The Orca was just a few feet from our boat and although we did not manage to get a photograph, those that saw it were astonished.  Shortly after the Orca visited, we had more dolphins, something I think will become very regular.  On the fishing front, Nick has tried each day without any success to date.  Today, Wednesday, we have two lines in hoping to increase our chances of a bite.
 
Yesterday, Tuesday, was a great day on the whole.  We sailed with the parasailor (large spinaker with vent for ocean sailing) for most of the day.  Paulo and Igor helmed for much of this getting a real feel for the sail despite the light winds.  About 1800 on Tuesday, Nick and Karen discovered that the fridge was not working.  This was quickly diagnosed as a power issue and our battery bank had not been getting the charge that it  needed.  Without getting too complex, the alternator was not putting charge into the batteries and therefore after 2/3 days of no engine, the fridge and freezer, iridium sat phone and other electrical stuff was simply drawing too much for our small fuel cell to compensate for.  Anyway, Nick and Gary got to work to overcome the issue so that we could motor through the night and recharge our batteries.  Gary has this morning got the solar panel operating properly so this should also help. 
 
Morale is high, despite the distinct lack of fish.  We are getting through the oranges and appies that Karen bought at the start of the adventure.  Drew and Nick have one at the start of each midnight watch.  The watches are four hours in the day, an hour over the dinner period and then three hours at night time.  The watch pairs are Gary and Karen, Igor ad Paulo and Drew and Nick.  Sleeping is increasingly easy as everyone getting used to the boat roll and pitch and the various noises that living on board brings.  Nick and Drew fought over one pillow one evening and have now settled on swapping it each evening.
 
So in summary, everyone is well, we are eating properly with plenty f fruit and vegetables.  At present there will certainly be no vitamin c deficiencies.  Karen is still taking sea sickness tablets but this is more precautionary.  We are approx 400 nm off of Cape Verde Islands and shortly before these, we will head west towards the Americas.  As we write there is little wind, plenty of sun so we are going to hoist the parasailor. 
 
We all hope that everyone is well back home or from wherever you are reading this and we will try to keep in touch as often as possible.  Finally, belated happy birthday wishes to Andrina for yesterday.  Love to all xxxxx


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