Day 11

Another dull and damp day on the Atlantic with steel grey waves and heavy, intermittent squalls. Hardly the blue skies and golden beaches of which we dream! Having tried sailing with reefed genoa and reefed main, we are now sailing with double-reefed main alone which seems to give us a little more control. We make 5-5.5 knots at 270ish most of the time in 20 knot winds from the NE but are pushed 20-25 degrees to NW by the frequent wet and windy squalls of up to 35 knots (all wind speeds approximate after wind indicator gave up the ghost with a gust of 47 knots on day three).

Wet weather gear is de rigour for those on watch, as is Dick Francis on audiobook. "Turns out it was my bloody pitchfork in the bastard's chest". It may be wet and overcast, but temperatures are slowly rising. Spirits remain high.

Had another Wanda incident last night when the paddle came up AGAIN entailing another frantic scramble off the back of Petronella to reinstate using the now perfected "hang over the back of boat with boat hook" technique.

Toast, scrambled egg and smoked salmon for breakfast this morning. Thanks mum! Stores holding up well, despite Marcus' nocturnal rustlings through the snack basket.

Birthday surprises are going down well! We don't have enough data to reply individually but thank you all. Gleastonians - we are beginning our stories. Thank you for the challenge. "Lazy Susan was engaged in tender steaming intercourse with the engineer....."

On a more sombre note, we were so so sorry to hear that Symina has had to give up her attempt to cross the Atlantic. Dilek - we are all thinking about you and hope you're safe!

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