Hot Stuff - Day 12,13 &14

Day 12 & 13 & 14 - 'We've had a busy two days dodging wind holes and making lots of sail changes to get the best speed we can. But we've also made time to party - celebrating Skipper Sophie's birthday with pancakes and chocolates, a welcome reward after a tough night of squalls and no moon or stars to help guide us. We've found the trade winds at last and put the spinnaker up at dawn. Everyone has been helming enjoying the 'exhileration' of flying the kite. And we were also lucky enough to see the fin of a pilot whale in the distance and a school of flying fish.

We reached the half way mark today and opened our present from our sister ship Diamonds - thank you ladies for the gifts - a christmas cake and courtesy flags for each nation on board - we are flying them now and they look great!

Mary spent the night packing St Nicholas presents for everyone and we woke to find chocolates in little gift bags with our names on - we also lit the second advent candle - it's feeling very Christmasy on board! Thalita produced a chocolate fondue using her secret Swiss chocolate stash (we all know where it is Thalita - its in the bilge near the nav station!). We are all sat together in the cockpit enjoying the sunset, heading West. The next blog will be halfway letters from each crew member home - so look out for these!