At sea for just under a week now and we've hit our first milestone - 2000 miles to go to St. Lucia.

After the adventures of the first few days we've had a slightly more relaxed weekend and start to the week. Our aim has been to head to a waypoint of 20N, 30W to pick up the southerly trade winds, a slightly longer route distance wise but one that should reward us with more consistent winds and currents. As such and as we are now approaching this point, miles that had been lost to other boats heading due west from Las Palmas are slowly being regained and our distance covered/24 hours is increasing daily.

The big focus for the last 48 hours has been on catching a fish - we've managed to hook two baby dorados but at only a foot or so long each they went back in to grow a little more. Four times we've hooked bigger fish, but each time have lost them on the reel in - one with the line snapping (with a 32KG breaking point it must have been quite a fish).

Beyond our attempts at deep sea fishing we've hoisted the parasailor again but caught up in the wind and halyards it sustained a couple of tears - now repaired and stowed away again we await a calmer day to try again.

All else is well on board and the crew all fine - wildlife and other human contact remains sparse - a reminder of how far we are from everyone, but we were passed by a 130ft yacht early on Monday.

Our plan over the next few days is to head to a new way point of 16N, 40W - Chris Tibbs, our meteorologist on dry ground and member of the ARC team has notified us that a low is developing that will affect winds to the north of this waypoint - best to keep south therefore.

Weather is good on the whole, sunny days and clear nights but with the odd squall or two every day and big swells (5 metres or so) for the last couple of days - it should get steadily warmer as we head further west.

Thanks for all emails so far, they do help fill the hours when we get news from home (even if just with the latest news & sporting results) - do keep sending them to 2fur8@sailmail.com

Canapesia

P.s. for those interested the below list out for each day our total miles to St. Lucia, miles covered that day and average speed.

Wednesday 28th Nov 2578.99 miles 70 miles 4.6 knots Thursday 29th Nov 2508.56 miles 119 miles 3.0 knots Friday 30th Nov 2389.81 miles 145 miles 5.0 knots Saturday 1st Dec 2244.76 miles 153 miles 6.3 knots Sunday 2nd Dec 2092.47 miles 160 miles 6.6 knots Monday 3rd Dec 1932.00 miles TBC miles 6.7 knots