Atlantic Blog#15 - Tuesday 9th December 2014

Today we finally managed to track down a very curious noise coming from the foredeck.  It appeared yesterday intermittently, and got louder and more frequent this morning.  It was like an incessant whine from a car brake left on.  After breakfast we couldn't stand it much longer so we scoured the front deck.  It was coming from the cruising chute bag, and when we opened it, it was plain to hear;  'let me out, fly me before I wither away!',  was the whine.  So we did.  And cruised along for 4 hours at 8+ knots.  In the glorious sunshine, it lifted our spirits to see the red, white and blue stripped pattern of the chute pulling us along.  We sacrificed a little north in our course, but it was worth it.  Little Pea, eat your heart out.  The rest of the day returned to routine headsail poled out to port and back on 260' heading for St Lucia.  We crossed the 600 mile line last night around midnight, and the 500 mile just as dusk drew on and sundowners came up.  Including tonight, 2 long watches and 2 short left for each watch pair before our day of arrival.  We added an extra hour to our day with clocks going back at 5pm.  Now only one more change to get us on St Lucia time.  As provisions are becoming ad hoc, evening meals are a complete surprise - whatever Deb and Tanya can put together from storage in the bilges for the chef of the day.  The home-made pizza and sweetcorn salad went down a treat.  Micro'd chocolate brownie was an interesting concoction.  It turned into a sweet desert consumed from a glass and spoon with afternoon tea!  The chocolate monster appearing in the microwave oven window as it cooked was something else.  Maybe we'll try another recipe next time.  Our daily YellowBrick ping shows us to be roughly in the same position relative to Class G fleet as the last few days.  We are staying a little north of the red line to hold onto the winds we have, with the option of some more south in our course over the last few days.  Beards are becoming very itchy, and razors sharpened.  Have no fear, there will be plenty of beard exposure on camera before the cut on Saturday, but it will be quick.  We are salivating at the options for our first 'I missed that so much in the last 3 weeks' .  Will it be a long hot shower, a cold beer from a real glass, or surf and turf with baked potato and green salad?  Maybe all 3 on the same day!  It's just 3 days away ...... wooooeeeehh!