We departed Rabat, Morocco, yesterday (Friday 2 November) with the knowledge that we had the correct tide and wave conditions to leave port and head further south. The departure was as it was on arrival - lots of officials, paperwork and the police sniffer dog again. We have nothing to hide but the dog is not well groomed and leaves black hairs all over the boat.

The weather is not yet perfect and we are actually motoring into a 15 to 20 knot wind and quite lumpy seas. However, these conditions are due to change slowly in the next 24 to 36 hours as we get closer to the Canary Islands and further south. We are not stopping in the Canary Islands, but continuing on towards the Cape Verde Islands before heading west to the Caribbean Sea.

This is just a short update and I will post a better blog entry in a few days. Regards from all aboard, John.