Leaving Stanley took a while as leaving tends to do. We collected Thomas our scientist and assistant crew for the passage from the dock in Stanley in pouring rain and windy wind and met the rest of our scientists and their camera crew briefly. I am pleased to report that they seem a very cheery lot and easy to get along with. We are really looking forward to working with them. It's always a bit disconcerting to have a camera shoved in your face and although we were expecting it it took a few moments to get used to. I guess that from the time we collect the rest of the team at Deception we will have our every waking (and I suspect some sleeping moments) recorded for posterity. Chris and I have both worked on this sort of project before and understand that with filming comes publicity and with publicity comes comes funding for future project so long may it last. To some extent it is the life blood of our industry. A final lunch from the friendly people at the seaman's mission with an extra slice of cake and cup of tea for all hands was followed by fond farewells and offers of marriage. Sadly though the lady who makes the cakes is already spoken for so my luck is out yet again. We left happy though having swapped some books from our library with some books from theirs. As we motored across the harbour our friend Dylan (Dylski) who helped us bring Pelagic down from Uruguay a few weeks ago came over to wish us 'bon voyage. Dylan works as bowman on the launch for Sulivan's, one of the Stanley shipping agents and was great to have the opportunity to say farewell. He complained that they were working him hard until we pointed out that with all the money he must be earning he could afford to buy us a beer next time we are in town. That seemed to hush his noise and he waved us off with a smile. Good guy that Dylski! The gale or the previous night had left a sloppy sea running and the dying breeze was right behind us, perfect conditions for a tap on the shoulder from Cardinal Chunder but the Cardinal was out of luck on this occasion as all on board managed to keep their lunch on the inside. We motored along under a slightly floppy main topping up our tummies with chilli and rice before falling into our watch patterns. Chris and I are alternating four hour watches over night with six hour watches during the day and Thomas the same but offset by two hours so neither Chris nor I drive him to distraction.. The new breeze came in after midnight fine on the starboard bow but so far we have managed to keep to our desired course of 190 degrees true and have even managed to put a little westing in the bank to help deal with forecast southwesterlies in the coming days. The seas are slight and speeds are pretty good with dolphins and bird life galore and as we passed Beauchene Island a lone Orca. As I write the sun is struggling through and all is well on the mighty Pelagic.....