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Gozwoz - Days 5 and 6 from Santa Maria



Last night the Navigator had the good fortune to sleep, though not simultaneously, with both the Bosun and Roger, who kindly allowed me to share their double berth in the stern while we were sailing upwind and they were respectively on watch. It was good to sleep somewhere that did not involve episodes of weightlessness as the bow came down. The Bosun, who seems to have kept a possessive eye on proceedings, commented that the Navigator was appropriately positioned on his edge of the bed, as he had been trained, but that Roger was in the middle. Her explanation was that the Navigator was monopolising the duvet. That allegation, which is familiar to the Navigator, is no doubt relied upon by all women when appropriate.
Sadly Our Great Leader did not have an enjoyable start to the day, although he spoke with relish (perhaps not an appropriate word in the context) of his spit in the old Atlantic sea. Fortunately he made a fast recovery, rapidly regained his appetite and is fighting fit as the blog is written.
As had been predicted, the wind backed and reduced in the morning and we had a good fast sail during most of the day as the sea flattened and the clouds cleared. The view of the sun setting was unimpeded but, despite the crew on deck watching carefully, no green flash was seen. A delightful feature was that, having seen the last vestige of the sun disappear from the bottom of a trough, it reappeared as we climbed the crest of a swell. In all we saw it go down 4 times. The sunset was followed by heavy dew and the appearance of Venus in all her glory above a crescent moon.
The wind reduced over the night since when we have been motoring with help from the sails when possible. In Met Office language it is now variable F2 and that is likely to continue until we arrive in Lagos as we hope to do so by this evening. In continuation of yesterday afternoon the sun is shining out of a clear sky which must be wonderfully warm onshore. The quiet conditions are permitting the crew, mostly Roger, to perform prodigies of housework in the expectation of having guests on board later and the Coxswain and Navigator are packed in the hope of being onshore with loved ones tonight. We are now 35 miles from the mainland and the first insects have arrived on board.
GOZWOZ motors on. Since Black Sunday in the early stages of leg 2 sh has performed admirably and without any significant problems and has fulfilled the Navigator's adage that the boat is invariably stronger than the crew. Only a short way to go now.

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