It seems that we have found ourselves in the Doldrums. There has been very little breeze. the swell has flattened out and we have been inching our way forward yet away from our rhumb line as we've endeavoured to keep wind in our sails. It's been slow travelling. The upside is that the benign conditions have made it all that much easier to tick off a few domestic tasks plus take the time to be inventive in the galley and prepare a few ready meals from our diminishing supply of fresh produce. Have even managed to whip up a tiramisu for the Captain's imminent birthday celebrations!

Our afternoon was spent catching up on sleep plus researching locations and anchorages in French Polynesia, all while chasing the wind. A large pod of dolphins, including our new friend "Skeg", showed up around 1400 to entertain us for around 15 minutes as they zoomed around our bow. Night came and still very little breeze despite an updated Grib promising 13-16 ESE. With the wind completely exhausted at 2230, Paul decided to furl in and engage the iron sail for the rest of the night - a good opportunity to ease our way along under power and to top up our battery banks. Without having to concentrate so intensely on wind direction, as we have needed to whilst under sail, it was a very relaxed couple of night watches.

It's now well after sunrise and we are still becalmed and under motor. We've decided to adjust our course slightly and head more southerly in the hope of finding some freshening breezes. We've had a delicious birthday breakfast for Paul; he's opened his gift (yes, the Birthday Fairy makes boat deliveries!) and we're steaming ahead on a course of 205 degrees. As at 0800 we covered 111 NM over the last 24 hours. Slowest.Day.Sailing.Ever.

All well onboard.