Scarlet Oyster - scarlet oyster blog

Those abed in England this day will rue that they were not here.

Yesterday was another scorching day upon the water, we are firmly in the tropics and have been for some time. As ever the sailing is dramatic, a slight wave creates a car wash noise as we accelerate, more breeze and a long surf is possible, a much longer surf and take your hands off the wheel if on course and check the speed for a new record.

We have settled into our watches but a fair amount of bunk hopping is necessary as folk prowl the yacht in search of the quietest bunk, a fruit less task as we rock and roll and the sheet winch grunts and groans. Animated conversation and gales of laughter fill the air day and night, punctuated with instructions to trim, ease, COME UP, COME UP !

We are running on UK time so that every day the sun sets later. Since we are sailing westish the last hour and a half is into the sun. We sail into a path of silver diamonds. In Hungarian this is known as the Golden Gate. I protested that sunlight is colourless and it was pointed out that at dawn and dusk the sunlight is warmer. I have the final word ( for now ) and its definitely silver !

We continue to enjoy luxurious cuisine, lunch just now being 2 hot dogs apiece with fresh tomato and sweetcorn salsa, fried onions and ginger with sweet chilli sauce, gherkins, tommy K and English mustard. Boat maintenance carries on, on arrival in St Lucia Ross will have caught up with the old maintenance list and writing a new one. His grinding and electricians skills rapidly fixed the black out as the nav instruments went on strike during the darkest hour of the night.

We are looking forward to some fishing and are armed with an array of sauces and pickles. This year the Jamon was particularly fine, moist sweet, tender and now finished. In a race such as this there will be blood sweat and tears. Blood from injudicious ham carving, sweat because its hot, darned hot and tears of laughter !

A very special thanks is due to Kelsey for slaving away in Las Palmas cooking our delicious meals !