We've been on the water for 12 days and we still have at least 3 days to go! (The hole trip is normally a 7-9 day sail)

So far we've had 3 days of no wind, followed by a 4-day gale (involving a 300NM detour around the "Dangerous Quadrant"). Now we are into our third day of tacking into head winds and lumpy seas.

Autopilot packed it in last night trying to drive the boat straight into 28 knots of wind and 15' seas. We had to hand steered all night. Installed the old backup autopilot this morning and should be okay for a few days if the wind stays light.

Peter and I dying to get off this boat. It looks like a boom went off inside after 7 days of 15'+ seas.

Come on Mostly Harmless! You can get us there! Just 3 more days!

Interesting fact #1: A C&C 40 will do 8.25 knots of sustained boat speed powered only by a storm jib reaching across 38 knots of wind. Fun Fun.

Interesting fact #2: There are a dozen boats within 150 miles of us that left the same day from Tonga. There is a daily radio net run by a boat a few miles away. Every morning we call in to share our misery and weather frustrations with the rest of the pack around us.

Yes I'm bitter. I'll get better. Solution will be shower, shave, sleep and suds in order of opportunity.