16Deg 07.959N 41Deg 24.310W

There ain´t no blue skies around here. Since we arrived in the tropics (23.5N) we have seen no blue skies, no sun, no dolphins, no palm trees and no rum shop! I think it is a big hoax! Fortunately for Karen and I we have our full winter wardrobe but Bernie only has a couple of pairs of shorts, a windcheater and the wet weather jacket he bought in Las Palmas which he is very grateful for.

On the bright side we are pumping along quite nicely. Today we will average close to 7knots (about 12km per hour for those of you with cars) which believe it or not is good going for this trip. We have the main reefed down twice and only a hankie out the front and still Karen is a bit anxious as the seas have now reached 4 meters and are having alot more say in how the boat moves. Alfie the autopilot is handling it all well although sometimes the big waves beat him to a gybe which he corrects quickly. This will last until at least Saturday so whilst it is a little less comfortable, we can be assured of a quick ride.

To date we have had very few problems with the boat (apart from those we were trying to get fixed before we left GC) only having lost the d-shackle on the topping lift (it is the only size I don´t carry a spare for) and today the second batten popped so it is now enjoying the ride in the cockpit until the weather calms down and we can put it back in place.

The biggest challenge is managing the 12v. I am not sure if the house batteries were damaged on the trip to Les Sables, but we are having to run the alternator for 6 hours per day to keep the boat operational and we have dropped our usage down as far as we can go (yes the beer fridge is off). It is a shame we could not organise the solar panels in France (thanks for trying Nigel) and it will now become our main priority when we hit the Caribbean (7 days from now).

Our plans are still fluid when we reach the other side but we are thinking of chillin' on Barbados time for about a month before starting to explore the windward islands. We then need to decide whether we will summer in Trinidad and Venezuela or head up to the States - and you guys think you have the big life changing decisions to make on a daily basis.

Anyway I had better sign off - I am on watch with nothing to do except watch and tomorrow will be just the same - I can see why people get excited about doing the Atlantic Crossing - absolutely glamorous and a thrill a minute. To liven things up this morning Bernie decided to cling to the sail like a gekko while retrieving the wayward batten as the boat gybed.... what people do to have fun out here.

Cheers

Karen and Matt