Risque Business - Friday, 10th Nov 2023 - Day 6 RB Blog

17:25.33N 24:29.35W
1425 Friday, 10th Nov 2023 - Day 6

At 0500 this morning we were exactly 100NM from the Leg 1 finish line off Mindelo, Sao Vincente in the Cape Verde islands. With a bit of luck we should be in by this evening, but the winds are much lighter now, so we're making slow progress and a bit of a wallow with the swell. We managed 173 miles yesterday.

What's been going on these last 24 hrs - well the engineering dep't managed to put together a fix for the broken spinnaker pole which involved Ed on the stern using an angle grinder - Nick just wished for a welding set to be on board. We are now able to have the main up with a poled out goosewinged genoa, so making better progress and at least directly toward the finish line.

Seasickness has taken its toll on Patrick, but after trying Nick's tablets yesterday and today, he now has a new lease of life and has made his first loaf of bread (delicious) and also ridden to the rescue of his kefir culture, which has been severely neglected these past few days. The leg of Iberian ham has been tucked into and along with the copious cheese we've got on board, Rich is delighted with the ham and cheese sandwiches, which he proposed many months ago and was dismissed as "not the type of food we eat on RB".

Each morning has seen dozens of flying fish on the deck - actually the only fish we've caught (OK wrong terminology) but Nick is eating them as sushi for breakfast. The main fishing department has been singularly unsuccessful so far with lures trailing all day. Even using the bloody smelly flying fish as bait hasn't helped a passing Dorado or Tuna onto our hooks!

Anyway a cold Cape Verdian beer awaits our arrival in hopefully 6 or so hours! Cheers for now.