Hello again from Guy,
Thanks for the updates, they are really appreciated: Should be an exciting game with the team that Brian Ashton has picked for Saturday!
So what have we been up to? We were slightly becalmed yesterday early afternoon, wow it's hot with no wind. The new team hair cuts have really come into their own in this weather but we can't get Suzy to join in. Using the latest Computation Fluid Dynamic predictions downloaded from maxsea (i.e. weather forecasts) and after a swift calculation we deduced that diesel power was best to move us slightly further from the Columbian Coast to find the wind. 3 hours later we found about 20 knots of wind and gave our trusty diesel powered friend a break and set off on a tack that lasted 12 hours. To ensure optimal crew performance several naps enforced in the afternoon, vainly trying to find somewhere that was a little cooler on Kasuje. Suzy seems to have dominated our televisual experience with a couple of girly flicks, although since we watched 'Meet the Fockers' skipper can't stop shouting out "ARSEHOOOOOOLE!". Anyway I digress, most the maintenance has been completed and the computer/GPS/navigation systems are as any techno-geek would like to see so we had an extra long time sat at the front of the boat watching the sun go down (Henry the autopilot looking after Kasuje perfectly well during this time). This experience was high lighted by a glorious Gin and Tonic (if I do say myself) complete with ice and a slice of lime. Whilst contemplating the meaning of life and the taste of our G&T we took the opportunity to check the high tech navigation systems and the solution to the partial differential equations that skipper was using for optimal route planning against Northy's famous adage: "Make sure the sun sets on the bow", it was, so all was well.
Skippers quiet time?
Finally, we all enjoyed a T-bone steak with chips fried onion and haricot beans in tomato sauce (Heinz Baked Beans to the rest of you...) before settling in to our fairly consistent watch pattern now:
Suzy taking 9pm-12am
Skipper taking 12am - 3ish am
Guy taking 3ish am - 7am and then back to bed until the thought of food again forces him up again.
A well timed Gybe in the night has given us ideal wind conditions of 20 to 25 knots allowing us to 'Goosewing' downwind straight into Colon doing 8 to 8.5 knots speed over water and 9 to 9.5 knots speed over ground. So it looks like we won't be able to hear that sweet pure melodic sound of an inline-6 diesel engine again until we reach Colon. The only other notable activity in the night was a suicide attack by flying fish culminating in one flying through an open galley hatch and landing in the sink making a rather irritating noise when most were trying to sleep. He was returned to the sea with 10 of his friends that we caught sunbathing on deck this morning. Maybe it is these fish that our stealing our stuff as we are now missing: A hair brush, memory card and a pair of scissors?????
Suicidal Fish called Dennis
To celebrate our completion of repairs required after our little party in St Lucia skipper cooked us a 'Full English' complete with spicy St Lucian sausage: just the job. Another party is now required before we leave Panama to ensure we have something to keep us occupied for the next leg. Although, I think skipper is keeping himself busy by taking up art and crafts. Kasuje now has lots of lovely little leather booties, which make her 'look pretty' (I know a little concerning).
Finally, computer says: ETA Colon 05:54 1st February 2008 (local time St Lucia). 09.54 GMT.
Lots of love,
Guy, Suzy and Skipper Steve XXX
P.S. A question for Scotland from Guy: I was just wondering if investing in a yacht would have been better than the stock market this year?
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