Risque Business - Day 3 - Risque Business Blog

23:33.27N 018:26.59W

Well we lost the use of our spinnaker pole last night - the damaged pole fitting finally sheared off - hopefully a spare will meet us in Mindelo when DB joins the crew. The genoa isn't happy without it but we're still making good progress with a 24 hour run of 175 NM in the 24hrs from midnight Sunday to midnight Monday.

This morning we have a steady 20 - 25kts with gusts into the 30's and one even over 40kts during the night! Had some more light rain showers and it's been pretty cloudy with a lumpy ol' sea! We've a boat speed of 7 - 8 kts with just the genoa flying which, at this rate, will hopefully get us to the midway point to Mindelo around midnight tonight (total distance of 867 NM from Las Palmas to Mindelo).

Ran our 1st SSB HF Radio Net at 1000 this morning with 11 other yachts logging into the net this morning providing there position, wind speed/direction and engine hours. Pleased to report that nobody reported any issues and it was good to know that there is other human life out there, even if we can't see them.

As I write, we've had a cry of "fish on" from Ed and with Nick there's some frantic reeling in over the stern. Sadly the 80kg line has snapped after 10 minutes of them fighting - that's another that has got away and no tasty lunch for the RB crew now! Current score - RB Crew 1 : 2 Fish!

Everyone is well and, apart from Nick, have had some sleep.