Yesterday, Sunday 7 October, we awoke to find another idyllic sailing day. Blue over darker blue, flat clear horizon in sunshine. Except to the south where we were pointed. A low line of white, flat clouds capping a dark underbelly were in the far distance. This was where the weather changed forever. This was the weather system that would terminate our trade wind sailing. We were looking forward to this change. Eight days of steering the same heading, 220, with the same sails set, with the wind from essentially the same direction continuously was enough. More wind, even clouds and rain; that is what we were anticipating. Slowly through the day the wind we had faded away and no matter how hard I tried to sleep through the slating sails, banging boom, and complaining autopilot it was impossible. The crew didn't complain once but it was easy to sense their relief when I called for the engine to be started. Three hours and one dinner later we found sailing wind at the edge of the clouds. We were ready and rigged for 25 knots. We found 10 knots then later 15 knots. By this morning we had the jib back to full. Sailing nicely, no rain even sunshine but ...but the three meter seas are here and they are lumpy. So on we bounce still heading 220 looking for the next milestone. That would be 75 miles ahead. It is a way point we will approach that takes us between some offshore sea mounts. From there we will assume a new heading later today that will take us 1,300+ miles to the entrance of the Rio Plata, Ponta del Este, Uruguay. Still got a ways to go here.

By the way, there is 100% agreement aboard this boat that coconut oil does not cut it as a substitute for BUTTER. Sorry Alex.