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Cheeki Rafiki - Day 15



Hi again everyone,
we're getting close now ...so a bit of a different blog. Some of the usual stuff for 24h but then the thoughts of each of us at this time.
Yesterday, during the day it was fairly uneventful with lightening winds from the same (E) direction so here's the menu for the day;
breakfast: hot dogs in brioche with fried onions
lunch: sardines and cucumber on toast, lamb stew (boil in a bag)
dinner: pasta with melted cheese, canned mango
 
During the night it was fairly frantic at times. We had a series of squalls chasing us East.Ilya and Doug got the worst of it with winds strengthening and shifting 90 deg in minutes. lots were up on deck to help and got wet in the process. Morning came with quieter seas and winds. We listened to other yachts on VHF saying they were 100 miles out and languishing without wind.
 
Thoughts of James
Have invented the game of Pooh cans, throwing soda cans overboard and seeing which sinks first ....having fun as the competition hots up. He is also very pleased with the advent calendar ....we all get to open a window in turn and guess what's inside. Doug guessed Ksenia's teddy bear this morning which caused a bit of mock outrage. Thinking also about landfall having a drink and tidying the boat. Natasha and a shower.
 
Thoughts of Doug
Enjoyed guessing the teddy bear in the advent calendar. Slightly concerned at the wind hole we seem to be approaching ...we are 307 miles away from St Lucia now. Thinking about onward passage to Antigua and then home, boat tidying, and sail repairs . Also Christmas and the short time left to buy presents. Looking forward to chill out in St Lucia.
 
Thoughts of Ilya
Crowded head that cleared slowly but completely by the half way mark.Since then building positive thoughts about family,\friends and self. Excited at the prospect of going home but want to savour the remaining days of the ocean.
 
Thoughts of Ksenia
Wondering about how she will look back on this journey.What will she remember or forget/ What will she modify in telling the story....whatever she believes it will be a valid and positive construct. She also ponders on what will have changed in herself. She is thinking of a list of simple pleasures when she returns to her hometown as the local girl who conquered the ocean. Looking forward to StLucia...this helps speed the journey.
 
Thoughts of Ivan
Recently Ivan has been living with the conundrum that he thinks this passage is over-rated but he still thinks it is an achievement that others have no right to criticise....he reflects on some of the more difficult times of the journey balanced with long easy day time sailing in a wide ocean. Enjoying the last of the trip.
 
Thoughts of John
How are my family, what has happened in their lives in the last three weeks that I haven't been able to share or help with? Huge enjoyable experience overall. Learned a lot more about sailing and have stretched myself. In addition to the challenges and pleasure of the journey I think about Stevenson's lines; 'It is better to travel than to arrive' The pleasure of the travel in this case is to meet and get to understands a widely diverse range of characters.  Different cultures but strong emotional intelligence in all have made for a smooth and enriching trip.
 
 
best wishes from all,
John



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