Annabella - Log 18 - Friday 13th December

Position: 14 11.7N
55 49.9W

Distance to St Lucia: 297.4NM
Distance since log 17: 194NM


Possibility that we will get into St Lucia Saturday evening sometime. Daily mileage is holding well and forecast is suggesting 25 + knots for tomorrow. The twin headsails are working well, but the rolling they induce means that the body is constantly in motion. It is especially noticeable when trying to sleep. Feels as if someone is pushing you continuously. The distance left is similar to the Dunlaoghaire to Dingle race so it feels very much in home territory.

We moved into 4th place in our class yesterday and we think we can see no. 3 ahead of us on the horizon. He was 19 NMs ahead yesterday in the position report. We are optimistic that we can catch him (if it is him) before we get much further and especially when the wind gets up tomorrow. Slight worry that one of our sheets on the twin headsails might be fraying and if it breaks it could take a while to sort, especially in heavier winds. The sails are cut very high so getting to the clew is impossible without dropping the sails a bit, which is not desirable. Offers to shimmy out along the pole to tie on a lazy have been declined. What day and date is it? Oh S~>t!

The menu last night consisted of lamb stew laced with plenty of red wine. Absolutely delicious Conor! We still have sufficient meat for three more days so no chance of going hungry. Heavier winds will make it somewhat challenging to prepare though. Lunch today will be pancakes with strawberries. Conor bought the mix in Las Palmas as a surprise. We had fresh bread again today for breakfast (should have started earlier and bought more).

Hopefully there will only be one more log before we finish, but will sign off officially after we arrive so that we can describe going over the finish line.

It's hard to image being home in Dublin on Sunday week (for 3 of us) and straight into Christmas.

Until tomorrow.

Peter, Craig, Stephen, Conor & Terry