Day 20-24

Galley duty was tough! Beating upwind, falling off rollers. Even Kaz felt a bit squiffy but she carried on like a trooper to serve the gang their food to keep energy high- amazing how important food is on a boat for morale!

Mother sleep- tried another bunk – the Lee cloth too loose and the bunk doesn’t go high enough, spent the whole night hanging onto the frame so no sleep- getting pretty tied! The night was super dark, rainy and pretty windy (20-25knots upwind- 30+ across the deck)

Next day was able to ease the sails and we had a glorious 24-48 hours of thrilling reaching conditions, averaging over 12 knots for over 12 hours! Managed to pull into 1st place on the leaderboard which was sweet!

Starting to get colder now, multiple layers and gloves needed especially at night. Last minute decision to bring heated gilet = best one ever!

Winds dropped and the y1 came back out again, several y1-y2-y1-y2 changes- one memorable one at 3 am, heave too to drop the 1 which we had been holding for far too long, both watches needed to heave the one down and get the two up- then the others had a monstrous y1 flake which near killed them all! Keeps you warm at least!

Just in time as by then we were overpowered by 2! Even the generator said No as the heel was too much. Morale pretty low the upwind grind slowly getting to everyone.

Had to have a word with the watch- too many people disappearing for too long to do the duties- cleaning and bilge empyting, currently a never ending cycle of emptying water from the boat, in particular the sail locker seems to be leaking like a sieve! Asked them to consider the others who are stuck on deck whilst they’re down below as at least 4 on deck at all times.

Overnight the one reef and y2 kept the boat nicely balanced and flattish (lucklily as Dan had to give the generator and the water maker some TLC- saltwater is bad for everything and gets everywhere it shouldn’t be!)

Boat very damp- lots of condensation from cooking and breathing humans as the temp above deck is getting colder- but so far none of the big windy cold conditions promised- seems to be lots of upwind so far!

24 hours later (10th April) wind lighter and this morning we dropped the 2 and hoisted the one to keep everyone busy and warm- unicef and Bermuda came back to join us on our course and popped out behind us so we are in 2nd to Punta who have gone very north. Other boats stuck in a wind hole which so far we have managed to avoid- just flukey light airs, starting to back so nearly time for some kite flying hopefully!

Aired the tea towels and dried off all the kit today in a beautiful sunny afternoon sailing- another day of solent crusing!!