Freebird Atlantic

We are now on Day 15, and only have 720 miles to go, a similar distance to the passage from Gibraltar to Lanzarote that we completed in September.  In normal circumstances that is a marathon, but psychologically we are all beginning to feel that we are nearly there.  That is not to say that we want this journey to end as we are all thoroughly enjoying the passage.  But as I explained yesterday, it has been difficult to point straight at Antigua. For the first time last night we turned on the engine as the wind died to almost nothing so we are pointing straight at Antigua.  The forecast remains light for the next 24 hours, and we do not have enough fuel to motor for more than another 2 days?. So William has woken this morning twitching to turn off the engine and hoist a spinnaker.  A light sail is much better than the heavy main in light airs as the main tends to flog and crash on each roll making the whole rig shake which is thoroughly wearing on both boat and crew. The boys have rigged up another complicated rig to make our asymmetric spinnaker go dead downwind, so let's hope we can make that happen today.

We believe that we have set a record for fare eaten across the Atlantic.  We had a delicious partridge casserole with bulgur wheat, quinoa and green beans for supper last night.  I think all found it delicious but they were on pain of death to complain as there had been a lack of fish caught during the day.  Poseidon is having his revenge at seeing a brightly coloured tin of tuna being trailed on a hook.  Henry had said that he had a craving for Ambrosia creamed rice, so I rose to the occasion and cooked a rice pudding in the pressure cooker.  This was  first for me and the reason I did not use the oven is that it would take an hour of precious gas time, whereas the pressure cooker took 15 minutes. Big success, so might have to be repeated.

I thought Henry and James needing razzing up yesterday so I invited them to make an attempt to grow a mermaid.  She started as a small pink  plastic mould and on impact with water she took a very different shape, from looking as if she has taken too much botox, to sitting on a bicycle pump.  She has bulked up in all sorts of unlikely places and I don't think she will be luring Henry and James to the underworld.

We saw the first ship yesterday since leaving the coast of Africa about 12 days ago.  It passed within a mile of us.  Otherwise we have only seen Watermusic, a friend's boat also making the crossing, 10 days ago, and 4 Talisker rowers.  After a fortnight at sea, we have covered 2,230 miles, which works out at about 160 miles a day at an average speed of 6.7 knots, slower than we might have hoped due to the relatively light winds.  The sea temperature is 78.2F but we are still not tempted to swim as there is a big Atlantic swell and  clambering back on board would be challenging.