Yesterday was a hot day. We are all now well into the rhythm of watches and we spent the afternoon relaxing up top when not helming as it was too hot below. I was such a lovely day that we decided to assign one of our valuable G&T allowances for early sundowners at 6pm just before the sun went down and we then tucked into roast cauliflower and lentil dahl.

When I came back on watch at 2200 hours, night had fallen and the moon was up, they say that things can go wrong very quickly on a boat and I’m happy to report that this was not one of those occasions. The watch was enchanting with a beautiful clear sky, bright starts above and the moon shone so brightly in front of us that it lit up the whole sea and laid down a silver path before us beckoning us onwards.

The wind was constant at 10 knots and for once the trade wind sail and Hydrovane (self steering affectionately known as Henrietta) had decided to play nicely together. I had installed Henrietta 12 months earlier and had had a number of sea trials with her with varying degrees of success. Two days ago I had tried patiently for hours to get her to set properly and hold a true course but she had the habit of behaving like a spoilt toddler stamping her foot with her arms tightly folded, refusing to play nicely with our powerful trade wind sail which pulled the bow of the boat forward lurching from side to side in the swell.

Shortly after the watch began the wind shifted around to behind us and we were forced in the dark to make a sail change, down came the main sail which was overshadowing the trade wind sail which we then split in two and opened up to a truly majestic shape. Nervously we engaged Henrietta on a course of 240 degrees to find that they had finally kissed and made up as the course held true and we then sat back. It was truly magical and one of those rare times in life when one is silenced by the beauty of the surroundings. We sat on watch just listening to the gentle lapping off the waves on the side of the boat as we powered forward at 6 knots thoroughly captivated by the moment.

The wind held all night and into the morning the log showed we have now covered 480 miles and are now just a couple of days out from the Cape Verde Islands. As the bright orange sun lifted itself out of the sea I reflected on the journey ahead only another 2,420 miles to go.

Paul/Skip