Woohoo - we have wind. We are at 15 degrees north and we have picked up what appear to be trade winds. We had started to doubt whether these winds actually existed. Instead we imagined them to be mythical breezes carried on the fins of mermaids. True to this fantasy, last night as the wind shifted to the East, Houdalinqua was surrounded by whales and porpoises moving majestically through the water and expelling air up from their blow holes to alert us to their presence in the star - lit sky. They heralded the arrival of the trade winds. As we sailed through the night, it appeared that we were flying on fairy dust, as the phosphorescence dusted the sides of the yacht and left a trail behind the stern. "Just like rainbow road level in Mario Kart", jess said. Oh Jessica, the poetry of it all.
We still have about two weeks to go, which will mean a total of 24 days at sea (and over 3,000 miles!). Tricky, we have food on board for 20 days, so Kim has started to enforce rationing. We have been deciding who to eat first if things get desperate - Adrian is front runner at the moment, so a worried Adrian has gone on a extreme diet in the name of self preservation. Come Dine With Me continues unhindered though.it is all about the presentation! And as morale was at a low yesterday evening after another becalmed day, Hugos sausage and mash (Spanish style) was fry-up fantastica and much welcomed.
With a becalmed day, Jess attempted her second shower - sensible. Alicia tried to shower in the 20 knot-on-the-nose gale the previous day. Tip of the day, lathering up in shower gel and then using the shiny surface of the loo seat to steady yourself in a 6 metre swell, can only end in extensive bruising.
Now that the fleet have caught or about to catch the trade winds, morale on the radio net has picked up. The Houdalinqua girls continue to be as popular as ever in Communication Group A. Yesterday saw us invite the fleet to a fancy dress drinks party in St Lucia on board the boat. We are hoping to break the previous record of 100 people on board at the same time. We have started recruiting and are confident of breaking the record - Rum punch here we come. We have also contributed our suggestions to a boat called Blues, for the soundtrack to this years arc - Go West, by the Pet Shop Boys, Can't get no satisfaction by the Rolling Stones, and 'It will be lonely this Chrsitmas'. Another boat has added - 'Still havent found what I'm looking for' by U2 and The Big Calm by Morcheeba - pretty much sums up everyone's experiences to date!
But today is the 1 December, and this means we can officially swap our shanty singing time for Christmas carols (anything to pass the time). Hugo and Jess received surprise advent calendars from Sheena this morning, and Hugo contributed a chocolate calender as a surprise (which Alicia ballsed up a few days earlier, when she came across it and anounced it to the whole crew). "You are shitting me" said Jess. Oh no Alicia wasn't - times really are that exciting.
The next way point is set to mark half way. This is when we can crack open a bottle of champers (don't tell Julian - we are a dry boat after all) and more importantly Ginny's Christmas cake (laced with a bottle of brandy). All that remains till then is to sun bathe in our bikinis, keep the boat sailing and lie back and spot the fluffy white clouds of the trade winds