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When my good friend Lizzy asked me if I would be her first mate on the ARC race I jumped at the chance. I've done several trans Atlantics but had not yet done the ARC race. I also really liked the idea of doing it with girls for sail, we would be an all women group of 10 squeezed on a beneteau first 40.7, much smaller than I am used to racing on.

We spent the first week making our way south to avoid some strong weather in the north and to pick up the trade winds that are just starting to fill in now. We are just waiting for the right wind angle to get out spinnaker up but as I write this we are making a decent speed of 7 knots. The crew are getting used to helming downwind in the pitching swell. There are occasional panicked squeaks from them as sometimes a wave takes them off course but everyone is doing a great job. I am quite impressed by them all.

My schedule of a continuous 6hrs on 6 hrs off allows me to enjoy spending time with both watches. I am enjoying being back out in the open ocean again. I can stare endlessly at the horizon, watching the waves, getting lost in thought. The sun rises and set, the stars, are all beautiful. Because we left las palmas on a new moon it's been getting bigger each night. Lovely to have that friendly face on a dark night. With less than 2000 miles to go now we should have the moon the whole way.

There is already lots of talk of meals and more importantly first drinks when we arrive. Seeing as how it's the Caribbean I'm going for an ice cold spiced rum and coke. Well on that note I'm going to try and get some sleep before I'm back on watch. Sending lots of love to my family, Mum, Bob, Tan, Jake, Henry, Zoe and Day. Also lots of love to Paul, miss you and wish you were here. Ingrid and Betty, can't wait to see you.


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