Webster - Log 17: Its not usually like this around 'ere!

Saturday 7th December: Position 15 32' N 35 20'W. Lovely bright and sunny morning this morning, wind 8-10 knts, too little as usual but we getting used to that. Forecast is for less according to our grib files but that just cant be right, surely?

1000 kite went up again and bacon, eggs and beans for brekky - beans has got to be our secret weapon of last resort in these conditions. Jerry then caught a fish - no he hadn't, yes he had, no he hadn't - no he hadn't, just wishful thinking!

The wind was following its daily pattern coming up slightly during the early morning and we enjoyed up to 15 knts of breeze and again felt we were on our way hitting 8-9 kts on occasions. When we are going at reasonable speed (and at planning speed) it is surprising how the miles fall away; we are now roughly half way cross in terms of miles from Las Palmas to St Lucia. Our noon to noon distance had hit 165nm which was more like it but the boat is capable of more.

Boats ahead reporting little breeze and despondency continues out there, but it won't happens to us will it? There is reasonable breeze here now and it can't possibly run out.......

2100 the wind shut off. This can't be happening! No choice but to turn on the Iron Spinnaker and motor. At least we can pick our angle rather than being dictated to by an angle necessary to keep the kite flying efficiently. We could be doing this all night, and probably will as at 0400 there is still sweet Fanny Adams!

Still, we did a stock take on food provisions is evening and divided what we had left by the number of days prospective (how many??!!) and came up with daily menus. It looks quite good if I'm honest, which I'm not... not true, it does look like we will be eating well still for another 14 days if needs be without having to resort to eating Albert.

If we could find a local bod out here he would no doubt be telling us that "It ain't usually like this around 'ere!" Yeah, right, we believe you (NOT).

Charlie - Webster