Atlantic Blog #4 - Thursday 27th November 2014

Squalls overnight last night were a significant part of the passage, and after hasty reefing and judicious helming, we came out the other side of rain and high winds unscathed.  We have taken to manual helming through the night the give James (the autopilot) a rest, and more importantly the batteries topped up.  It was a make and mend day today, with mainsail car glued, big batteries separated to give the charging system a better chance at doing its job (found a major error from the electrician in Las Palmas !!), and chocolate brownies homemade from the oven.  A large pod of dolphins were a highlight of early this afternoon.  The clouds seem to be becoming NE trade puffs, a sky Danny calls the Simpson sky (can't think why?).  We are sailing in company with 3 other yachts of the Rally, Soulmate being out on our starboard quarter in sight.  Showers were had by all today, the fragrance of perfumed bodies has been wafting around the cockpit.  We are eating like kings, although we shared some vegetables with the fishes today.  Fishing has yet to begin.  If tomorrow is like today, I am betting it will be fresh tuna on the barbie for tomorrow's supper.  Beards are in evidence, rather stubble more than anything else, designer stubble designed by a blind man, adorns Danny and Johnny's merry faces.  The end result will not be sex symbol of the year!  Morale will significantly boost if the washing machine gets going at the weekend (we need the port tack for the waste, as the basin outflow floods on starboard - hence the sea-cock closed normally).  Thank you for all the support from home.  Keep your letters and requests flowing in.  We sing each day.  If there is a special song let us know and we'll sing it on 'Laros Sings Friday@.  You can tell it's horrendous here, can't you!