Almost under 1000nm

Wednesday 2 December – 15.00 GMT (1300 boat time)
17.51N 43.43W – 1019nm to go – 6.7 knots

Just a few hundred miles to go now, or so it feels as actually it is just over a 1000nm. Nevertheless this feels like another important watershed. Most of us have ambivalent feelings about the passing of the miles – our comfort loving selves are passionately looking forward to a bed which does not move (or rather us not moving while in it!), while the adventurous side is still reveling in the big ocean swells and the sheer power of Starchaser as she carves through the water. The noise generated by 23 tones of boat blasting through the swell at 9 knots is tremendous - I for one am fantasizing about the sounds of a tropical night on land, the silence broken by the tree frogs and rustling of the wind in the trees.

There are no real physical hardships; the food is good, the crew mutually supportive and the skipper and boat apparently unshakeable. Nevertheless, being irreversibly committed to the trip, whatever the weather throws at us, is testing; there is no exit other than Rodney Bay 6 or 7 days to the west.

Now too hot to sit in the sun and, being on a port tack with the main sail out to the north, means there is little shade. The most pleasant time to be on deck is now the evening and night. A full moon last night which rose as the sun set and sank as the sun rose. The moon shadows emphasize the movement of the water around us, allowing us to see the odd big wave which announces itself with a hissing rush behind us. At these times it feels more like downhill skiing than sailing.

One such wave Red watch managed to guide in through the hatch of the aft heads (loo) as Keith was contemplating eternity. Another guided by the now infamous Red watch found its way in through the forward hatch, so we are now being more cautious with opening the hatches for ventilation.

It has been a few days since we caught any more fish. Although two fish caught our brand new lures! Hooked them and then took ‘em with them! Must have been because we were doing 9 knots at the time!
There was some excitement when the reel ran out yesterday, only to be dashed when we discovered that we had caught the banana trunk which had just been thrown overboard. So it is now bananas with everything. Marlies managed to get a banana cake recipe from you readers emailed to us and we are looking forward to the first slices. We are all now learning where the snacks are stored. Midnight Twix bar hunts have become common as David, whose bunk is just below the goodies store, can attest.
Next time you will be reading our adventures we should be under the 1000nm!

Michael