Two bits of new for you today.

We have met our first sailing boat out here since leaving Bermuda. Sophia left Bermuda two days before us so we are quite pleased. However the wind has dropped as forecast and we are both ghosting along at about 3.5 knots. We have had a quick chat on the VHF and agree to meet up in Horta. I guess the two if us will be pretty close for the next few days. Sophia is heading for Norway after Horta!

Second bit of news is the wildlife. We have seen loads this morning. Two bats, a mouse, heaps of moths and a couple of spiders. Yes �- Elmarleen is flying its kite for the first time in 11 months. The last time it went up was when I left Bermuda last year in early August! Sailing�....no cruising short handed we often don�'t bother with the kite as its more hassle than the increase in speed. If you want to leave the kite unattended and under wind vane, you have to leave the kite over sheeted, reducing its over all increase in speed. When cruising like this I hate to be a slave to trimming. 9/10 poling out the genoa can boost your speed a similar amount and can be left to its own devices.

Anyway, speed is decreasing by the minute better get on deck and tweak something.

Will