Khujada 2

I am here Lat+14.394016 Lon-055.791366 Alt +2 m GPS Sats seen: 05 http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=14.394016&lon=-055.791366 Sent from my Iridium handset

I am here Lat+14.408166 Lon-055.740500 Alt +18 m GPS Sats seen: 04 http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=14.408166&lon=-055.740500 Sent from my Iridium handset

# “are we nearly there [yet]?”s: 1
# crew swims in the middle of the Atlantic: 1
Becalmed for 24 hours and motoring for most of that, we took time out to have a quick dip in the biggest swimming pool going. Deep blue 5000 metres down.
No big fish to see, although the skipper was ordered out on recon to check for who knows what before the rest of the crew jumped off. Wonderful way to cool off and make the most of the all too clement conditions. # whales seen: 0
Still no whales although we saw a couple of whale spouts 50m off our port beam a couple of days back.
Visits from seabirds have been a constant throughout the passage – there must be fish out there somewhere …. # fish caught: (still) 0.
Fishing rod didn’t even get an outing yesterday.
The boat continues to reap a nightly harvest of flying fish with the occasional squid. # vessels within AIS range: 3 (yesterday)
After a close encounter with some friends we originally met in Portugal right in the middle of the Atlantic – we just happened to be crossing through the same patch of ocean at the same time, yesterday saw one classic sailing vessel and two commercial sister ships within AIS range at the same time – something we’ve not seen for over a week! One of these commercial vessels, Manatee, took the time to call us on the VHF.
They asked if everything was OK, if they could do anything for us, and offered to be of assistance if we were to need anything.
The oceans can appear lonely and forbidding, so we were buoyed by such a warm and kindly contact from a stranger. # Atlantic squalls: 2
More on this later, but they were quite something to experience at the helm.

I am here Lat+15.371066 Lon-044.287250 Alt -18 m GPS Sats seen: 04 http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=15.371066&lon=-044.287250 Sent from my Iridium handset

I am here Lat+16.737000 Lon-037.415066 Alt +2 m GPS Sats seen: 04 http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=16.737000&lon=-037.415066 Sent from my Iridium handset

I am here Lat+17.131650 Lon-035.741466 Alt -1 m GPS Sats seen: 04 http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=17.131650&lon=-035.741466 Sent from my Iridium handset

I am here Lat+17.283266 Lon-033.266750 Alt +0 m GPS Sats seen: 04 http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=17.283266&lon=-033.266750 Sent from my Iridium handset

No bandwidth (via satellite) so no pictures.

We’re taking the scenic route (rather than the more direct and allegedly less comfortable direct course).
You can follow our progress on the fleetviewer page of the ARC’s website (go to worldcruising.com / select rally ARC / select fleet viewer) – note that from iOS devices it’s a paid app so recommend using a PC.

Water temperature: 26C
Air temperature: 29C(rather overcast today)
Showers per person per week: ~1.5? (water-making is a key daily activity) Skipper’s beard length: uncharted territory but well set for Xmas ho-ho-ho-ing. ARC vessels within 100 miles at start: ~175
ARC vessels within 100 miles midday yesterday: 7
Other vessels seen in last 24 hours: 0
Provisions remaining: ample (no leftovers from last night’s carbonara)
Crew happiness index: high – morale is good, children doing amazingly at keeping themselves entertained. Fish caught: 0 (hours spent fishing: could do better!)
Fish caught by boat: half a dozen flying fish.
Reefs taken in / out: too many to count!
Distance covered: almost halfway?

I am here Lat+17.932116 Lon-030.902883 Alt +0 m GPS Sats seen: 04 http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=17.932116&lon=-030.902883 Sent from my Iridium handset