AZ(AB) 91 - After an uneventful night

After an uneventful night the wind backed to the NW, and built to Force 5, giving us a day's average speed of 5.75 knots, still on schedule for 10 days voyage time.

Our Decca 2000 had been playing up the night before and signal strength was dropping off again, so we switched to the Transit satellite system (Navstar2000S). With this system, fixes are dependent on usable satellite passes, however the longest we had to wait was 2 hours and the shortest 2 minutes, not really a problem on an ocean voyage, especially as the set keeps a running DR position. The wind had been dropping for most of the day, from a Force 5, to a gentle breeze, we managed to hold our average speed up to 5.3 knots, a little lower than hoped for, however our overall average for the race was still well over 5 knots.

Most of the time when sailing, it's normal to face forwards, usually to obtain an even suntan, however a backwards glance is a good idea every now and then, to avoid being run down by super-tankers. I turned to investigate the source of distant splashing sounds, and to my concern saw that it was a school of Pilot whales who seemed to be chasing us. At first sight they had seemed like dolphins, but through the binoculars they were heavier and less graceful. Luckily the wind held up and we left them behind, the thought of a group of half a dozen - 3 to 4 ton whales trying to become friendly did not seem a good idea.

Racing pigeons seem to appear on yachts with great regularity and at first seem very welcome, however after a day or so they tend to overstay their welcome. One competitor became so exasperated that he even threatened to bake his little hitchhiker as it strutted around his boat leaving its "little messages." It's perhaps difficult sitting here on dry land, to understand how a little feathered friend could have caused such annoyance, but after days at sea, it's strange what a lack of sleep can do to upset your equilibrium.