Day 22

Wow, 22 days. Sounds like a really long time, but seems like no time at all, or a lifetime, it's hard to be sure.

THE WIND IS BACK - and slightly more than we were anticipating which is great. We've been sailing all day and chomping up the miles. First with the downwind rig and now with just the prevented main. Averaging 4 knots made good and nearly under 700 miles to go! We passed 3/4 of the way at lunchtime today (I predicted the time we'd get there most closely and won some Colin the Caterpillars - there are none left). We're also past 50 West and we've put the hour back today to "Brasilia" time. Feels like we're getting closer now.

Another sad day for the fish count today. The reel whizzed and dad fought a 1 metre mahi mahi before it dived under the boat at the last minute snapping the line. It's very difficult to land fish from Petronella (I'm told) because it has a canoe stern and all of the self-steering gear is there, meaning you have to land the fish down the side of the boat, creating hazards such as the one above. Fish for tea was quickly replaced with delicious pasta carbonara by Marcus.

Not much else to report really, a bit colder tonight - still in wet weather gear during night watches, though the days are now pleasant.

Marcus just said "imagine if this was a normal house tilting and crashing around". We decided major hazards would include a full bath, a fireplace and a paperweight ("it would be like a mortar"). Another topical conversation today featured the question: "what did we do last Thursday". The answer: "not a clue"!

Happy birthday for tomorrow to Abi! Hope you got your present, I miss your face. x x

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