Day 28

So. The wind died again. To quote Russell, one of our trusty weather providers, we were in the "middle of less than sod all". After some debate we decided to sit it out. All sails came down and we sat in a mill pond for 8 hours. So quiet we heard a a plane fly over at 30,000'. Just a few boatie creaks and groans. We all slept really well - quiet, stable and very nice. Anyway, sunrise comes and still no wind. It's on with the engine (sod the diesel). A while later a squall and 25k. We hoisted the main (then reefed it), genoa and mizzen for a 6 hour (so far) sleigh ride - another beam reach, this time on starboard tack. 6 knots for hours on end. Cracking stuff. Currently just 208 miles left to St Maarten. If we go really well maybe we'll anchor on Tuesday evening, more likely Wed am. Gilly SSSSSOOO wants to be there!!

Another bird to identify today (we really should have brought a bird book with us). It looked very much like a gannet - dark head, stumpy body, white underbelly and sort of (immature?) mottled grey back. Could it be the first coastal bird?

A dilemma. We haven't seen a shark. There will be some uneaten ham leg left over. Should we trail it on a string to attract them or would this be the first step to habitualisation of our shark to green sailing boats?

Another good Marcus meal - tomato, garlic, chorizo, chilli sauce with round and flat spaghetti and grated cheese sprinkled on top (and deck)! Yum, yum.

Possibly my last 10-12 watch tonight. Come on P. Come on. Clocks go back tomorrow to UTC -4 (GMT -4 to Russ, damn those Belgian beaurocrats)for the last time as we cross 060W longitude.

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