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Anika - BLOG 7



This is likely to be our last night out in the Atlantic as we have 84 nm to run to Rodney Bay and the finish line. Last night was spectacular with the very best of horizon to horizon stars, many shooting stars and perhaps a meteorite shower to boot according to our onboard stargazers.

Our planning to arrive at sunrise is still on course helped by a day of very light winds which resulted in running the engine for propulsion – what a shame as to date over the past three weeks it had only been used for 2 hours 55 minutes!! Anyway to ensure we don’'t arrive early we stopped for a swim which was like swimming in a warm bath, checked out the goose barnacle growing on the stern part only of the hull, we now have a decision to make, scrape them off or leave them to grow on for a nice snack, followed by a refreshing fresh water solar shower on the aft deck, we also had a pleasant chat over the VHF radio with Blue Ocean a Lagoon Catamaran as they motored past some 500 metres off our port side. It would not have been possible to arrive today in any case as the washing was still hanging out on the guard rails drying, we had water to make to ensure we arrive with full water tanks as they charge for this in the marinas, Richard still has unfinished business with a marlin (he tells us) but no worries I am rustling up a special final dinner at sea for the crew – Garlic, onions, cabbage but it is a bit dodgy so going for eggs instead, sweet corn but Richard has opted out of these and the star of the show Fray Bentos Pies, yes not one but two, we feel that a can of beer would not be out of order to wash it down.

It is also likely to be the last day of "pole dancing" this is unlike anything you will have seen, I am the audience at the helm trying to keep ANIKA steady whilst Simon hugs the mast, the up haul and down haul and Richard leans out over the guardrail staring down into the deep blue sea before catching the spinnaker pole as it is dropped nae lowered gently into his waiting arms, as soon as he has hold of it he then proceeds to wrap his arms firmly around it as both Richard and the pole gyrate up and down the deck keeping in step with the rise and fall and rolling deck. 

All in all it has been a pleasantly relaxed day made all the more enjoyable by the fact we have not been racing merely enjoying the experience and believe it or not only finished Pip’s brandy laden fruit cake this afternoon, we would have finished it earlier but Simon would not let us!

During our passage Simon has been diligently putting in many hours working on sextant sights which have produced a remarkably accurate reproduction of the course shown up on our chartplotter enough to have been able to rely on it - very well done Simon.

It will be interesting to talk to the other yachts about their experiences and why they took various decisions, how they managed watches, water, food, breakages and so on.

Any way that is for tomorrow, for now we enjoy the moments we have left alone on the ocean.

David



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