We are now approaching les Chausee de Sein, having crossed the shipping lanes during the night, and soon will be crossing the exact path that we took one month ago on 15 July. Since then we have sailed 2,500 nautical miles. The adventure is nearly at an end and if this breeze holds steady we hope to cross the finish line this evening at about 1800hrs.

On Sunday we had a fantastic day's sailing close reaching into a northly wind and we covered 150nm in 24 hours - it seemed our plan to head north to get better winds had paid off but then at midnight we sailed into top edge of the anticyclone and the wind died completely - during the next 6 hours we covered 1nm! but by dawn on Monday the wind had backed into the SSW and began to fill - we gybed and slowly during the morning the wind picked up and we were able to set the spinnaker again. We passed the 100 nm to go target and could start thinking about our ETA, a hot shower, clean clothes and something to eat other than cured ham and pasta!

Overnight we had an unexpected bonus in the form of a good breeze from the North West that meant we were able to cover 90 nautical miles in twelve hours and cross the invisible "300 miles to go" line. The morning watch was enlivened by a cargo ship on a collision course who didn't sound particularly awake when he finally answered the radio!

The wind dropped slightly by mid morning but we're still looking good to get round the Northern side of the high pressure (and low winds) ridge apparently forming to the East of us. Faith in the weather forecasts is, however, falling as we go on.

It is with a heavy heart that I must report the passing of our most beloved member of crew, Jorge. After providing us with subtley piquant meat for nine days, he was finally reduced to bones and nasty chewy bits just before dinner today. A brief ceremony was held before we committed his body to the deep (see photo). Whilst we only knew him for a short time, he will be sadly missed - I myself have fond memories of the first time I met him in a bar in Horta, hanging around.

Our stores of meat are now down to a single chorizo sausage, but with a bit of luck we could be in Douarnenez by Tuesday evening so only one more evening meal is needed and we won't need to break into the Pate Henaff.

Bonjour bonjour !! Apres une journee perdue dans la petole que de nombreuses heures passees a scruter la meteo n'ont pu anticiper... nous faisons route depuis vers le Nord ou le vent devrait souffler sans discontinuer jusqu'a notre arrivee, ert dans le bon sens en plus ! Nous devrions donc arriver "Mardi vers 16 heures" (a prononcer avec l'accent anglais of course), on l'espere bien en tout cas, car si les plaisirs du large sont toujours la, c'est bien parce qu on sait qu on arrive bientot qu'on ne se prive pas d'en jouir !