Atlantic Blog#12 - Friday 5th December 2014

Laros has experienced almost every point of sailing in the last 24 hours, more precisely in the last 4 when Danny and Tanya fought torrential rain, and blows from the north all the way through to the south.  Unusually, we are striding along on port tack, at a good 6-7 knots, which we have named the washing tack. 6-7 knots has been about standard for today, thankfully, as the 4-5 knots was getting tedious.  Still, we covered 117 miles in the last 24 hours.  Fingers crossed, the stronger winds will now stay with us across the remainder of the passage.  We are looking forward to celebrating crossing the last 1000 mile mark tomorrow evening around sundowners, for which a bottle of bubbles will be chilled (OK, cooled) in the bucket on deck. Lots of water making today, some into bottles to go back into the front 2 water tanks which seem to be self-depleting over time. The fridges were cleaned out and plastics crushed and cut into empty water bottles. The 'Jerry the Rigger daily 3 minute rig check' proved its worth - we would still be straining to replace the boom gooseneck pin if not for a judicious eye over the all visible parts of the standing rigging this afternon.  Moon and stars have been much in evidence.  As the sun sets, so the moon rises, and vice versa during the 4-8 watch.  We are lucky to have a full moon now which will stay with us on the wane as we approach St Lucia.  Skies at night are a mixture of wind laden clouds and clear starlit skies.  During the day, we always seem to be in the middle of clear skies with weather clouds 360'm around us - an optical illusion no less.  We are resigned to less cakes on the last third of our crossing as we have just changed onto our last gas bottle, though micro-wave cake making is promised as the new alternative.  The culinary standard of meals just gets better and better.  Danny has become accustomed to serving fantastic breakfasts of fruit juice, mixed serial with fruit, followed by coffee and crusty bread and jam.  Deb served superb  lasagne and salad (the last of the fresh) this evening.  It might just be the day for a celebratory bread and butter pudding this evening!!