This is getting painful. So near yet so far.

The wind is dropping hourly and right now, 4pm on the 2nd we're struggling to make 4 knots. Every time we calculate when we will get it its 3 hours farther out....and the engine keeps giving me a look! The new mainsail is slatting and crashing and knocking itself to pieces. If it continues much longer we will have to at least reef it or maybe even drop it. The GRIB says we should have 10 knots. The forecasters say 16 while we actually have 6.

The full rig is up, mainsail, poled out genoa and gennaker and we will probably leave it that way at least until the moon sets about 02:00. All in the search for speed.

The lead boats have been in for a couple of days and we're simply jealous. However, the weather has finally cleared and it looks very settled right now and finally, tonight we might see a sunset.

We are seeing a few more birds. The tropical equivalent of gannets, not as elegant as our northern bird but just as impressive dive bombing from a height to grab a poor wee, no longer Flying Fish.

Banoffee pie is being prepared for dinner along with chicken and honey mustard sauce over rice. Spuds would be nice but we sold too many on our dockside stall back in Las palmas.

Meanwhile, its afternoon tea and biscuits.