At 1000 this morning after two days of hard pounding to windward, the winds backed into the North (as forecast by GRIB US). So it was good for morale to be on course for Union Hall, reefed main & full genoa, sheets just eased, romping along at 7.5kts. A classic grey Atlantic today, but good visibility; as I write the 572ft Tanker 'Maracas Bay' is two miles to port on a reciprocal course for Pt Lisas and the 845ft MSC 'England' is 15nm to starboard; busy place this afternoon.

With Max fully recovered after his long night journey out to Horta, we have settled into a five man watch; each man is on watch for two hours (overlapping with one other, so always two on watch), then he has three hours off; seems to be working well. There is so much for a new crew to learn in the working of the ship; there has been a marked preference for steering on the autopilot rather than with 'Nigel' our Hydrovane. Of course, a relationship must be established with 'Nigel' - perhaps if I rename the Vane 'Nigella' the crew will be keener on getting to know her!

Days Run: 137nm

All OK on board