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Endeavour of Cork - Day 8 - Thursday 24th November



8am

We were all really shocked when we heard that one of the main ARC boats was lost yesterday. They were 400 miles out from Las Palmas, and from what we had heard had mostly all hit the same hole that we're in for days now. Noah (a German boat) started taking on water and could not find the source, and wound up abandoning and being rescued a few hours later. Incredible that something like that could happen in such benign conditions as these. Food for thought indeed. Our thoughts are with the family and crew of the boat, who are all safe, thank God.

Another beautiful sunny mid-Atlantic morning here. Still motoring, unfortunately - but at least we have the fuel to do it for the moment. A lot of brow-furrowing and calculating went on yesterday to try to establish our rate of fuel consumption while driving the boat, and while running the engine in neutral to charge the batteries. We filled the boat's tank from jerry cans, so knew exactly how much fuel we'd used since leaving Cape Verde. And we've been keeping a (very rough!) tally of engine hours for each mode. So the number crunching began, and we eventually came up with rough numbers of 1.5l/hour for running in neutral, andd 2l/hour for driving. Counting up what's left in cans, and in the now full tank, we reckon we have about four days' worth of fuel to drive (out of this bloody hole, hopefully) and then will have to start conservation measures. But we still should have plenty for battery charging purposes. That's the theory anyhow!!

We got a few hours respite from the engine yesterday, unfortunately it was in the form of a few frustrating hours trying to get the spinny to fly - not an easy task in 6-7kts of wind from astern! However we moved, albeit slowly, and that allowed the others to do the refuelling job which had to be done some time after all.

We're back on motor since some time last night at exactly 2000 revs, and the aim is to refuel again today and find out exactly (or as near as) how much fuel we use while driving. Little amuses us these days!!

I say "some time last night" as there are a few time zones going on on this boat now..... this laptop says it's 1000, my watch says it's 0800, the sat phone thinks it's 1100 (not sure where it thinks it is) and I've a feeling the satnav screen outside has a different time showing altogether. The radio network (as far as I can remember) is being run at 11am Cape Verde time, so 1000 current boat time. I really think we should just leave the watches now till we arrive in St. Lucia, or all our brains will be fried trying to keep up!

Last night we tried to watch a movie, but the sound wasn't really able to compete with the engine, which was a shame as it was looking like a good one - the Coen brothers' The Hudsucker Proxy. We'll have to try again once we get that blasted engine turned off.

while we were watching it sounded suddenly like someone was doing a jig up on deck. Every one of us was accounted for, so Laura stuck her head out a hatch, and found that the spare forestay had come adrift from it's mounting. While re-attching that, Conor noticed that the starboard nav light wasn't working (the new one fitted in Las Palmas!). Another job for the to-do list. You're never short of a job on a boat, that's for sure!!

Denise's dinner last night was a-maz-ing! Pork chops from the oven, roast potatoes, veg, and bananas fried with caramel sauce. I swear as the food diminshes on this boat, the meals are getting better all the time!! I gratefully did her clean-up duty, as she'd taken over the cooking duty from me (in some style!!)

Right, time to grab a coffee and up I go for my morning watch.

Have a good day, y'all!

Endeavour, over and out



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