Selene - Wednesday 5th December

The good news is my hair no longer needs washing, the bad news is we are heeling at an angle of 45 degrees again and pushing upwind in 18kts of breeze from the SSW. We have been through another depression last night with rain like stair rods. Not cold, but variable winds swinging round the compass. An inadvertent gybe took out Kevin's glasses but luckily nothing worse and he and Bob could barely see the instruments anyway the rain was so dense and both being spectacle wearers. New captain's edict - if it is raining cats and dogs put lenses in so you can at least see what is coming.

Anyway through that and into clearish skies now with the odd small squall. We are anticipating a shift later this evening and then, hopefully following winds all the way to St Lucia. Unfortunately that probably means another depression but we are used to those now.

For now the sun is shining between the rain clouds and we are getting a tan. A bit whiffy, but brown as berries.

We continue to cope with the arduous conditions and are pleased that Selene is a much more sea-kindly boat than many out here. Hearts go out to Judy Payne James who we hear has a fractured wrist. This really is quite a grizzly race. If anyone recommends the northern route in the futiure, politely decline and take the leisurely southern, trade winds route. It may take a few days longer, but much less arduous.

For now it is a race against the battery and we hope that the instruments will last a few more nights. We certainly needed them last night.

Selene out!