8 Dec 2012

[Captains Blog] Day 12 16.6N 39.6W

We lost the wind yesterday and still nothing much today. Pretty much along the lines of the forecast, so we have had to resort to using the engine for propulsion. The good thing about this is that we have charged up the batteries properly, and the watermaker has been doing its stuff, and we have full tanks again. That will please everyone on board, as in these temperatures, a refreshing (albeit quick) shower is well received before turning into our pits.

Last night when Ed was on watch, he was hit in the back of the head in the dark. It turned out to be a flying fish, which would technically have landed on the deck had it not ricocheted off Ed's head back into the water. That offishially brings the fish count to 3 for the sweepstake.

Phil turned his and to cooking last night - a delicious sweet and sour pork dish which we will probably repeat tonight to use up the rest of the pork that we removed from the freezer.

We passed two yachts yesterday which crossed our stern in the course of the day and night. There was even a freighter on the horizon moving southwards. After seeing nothing for days, it was nice to know we are not all alone on the seas. As we move closer to St Lucia, I imagine we will be seeing far more boats as we all converge on our destination.

Ed and I have been shooting sights with the sextant, and so far we have been very accurate. My last reported difference of 11 miles was grossly exaggerated -- we were actually 1 mile from our actual GPS position. Class will out! Sun run sun today has been plotted, noonsight to follow and we will then do our dead reckoning for our position. The sextant has never been so busy.