'Calling all parents', 'calling all parents'! What do you do when your teenager goes off his food? Eliot who normally eats like a horse has been off his food for a few days and last night threw up his supper. It's a bit of a rolling saga as we discovered three days out of Newlyn that Porridge was off the menu. Now in the normal course of events this would herald a swing by the shops with another breakfast cereal on the shopping list, in the full knowledge that in a few weeks time porridge would be back on the table and no waste would be had.

This time we can't swing by the shops and all we really have for the next fifty days is Porridge for breakfast. We have tried it with jam, we've tried it with sugar and we've tried it with honey, but at the end of the day it's still porridge. Mornings have turned into a parental "you have to eat this to keep going" and "it sucks" game of tennis. This is game that I am not going to play but at the same time, it is an issue in that he does have to keep his energy up through fluids and food. The saving grace is that all other meals are going down well - or they were until last night when rice with Chicken Supreme did a five finger spread over the side!

The night coaxed some garibaldi and water down and he stood his watch feeling tired but OK. When in doubt tackle it head on so we started the day today with a coffee with two sugars and a bad boy fried breakfast care of Uncle Mark, and hit the 'mark' it did. See, cholesterol is the business after all and the best thing about it was that we all had to have a shot of it as well.

We have had a very settled night with light airs but still able to make way in the right direction and have a good sleep with the easier motion of a settling sea. Our hearty breakfast was followed up with a gybe and we hope to see the wind rise a little tomorrow. The plan is to be near the Cape Verde's in three to four days.

Up until today there has still been a chill in the air with thermals being required both on deck and below. However, there is a real feeling of heat today and thoughts of a good old wash and brush up are in the air. Mark has had a shave and Andy is going to tackle his beard once he comes off watch. As for me; well it's going to have to be a shower this afternoon, but I think I might save the beard for a picture with Eliot's clay pipe. Standby for a fright Tracey - it's very grey!

Cheers Pete

Although I have never been one to suffer fools I do consider myself to be quite a patient person and last night tested it to its limit. There is a spot off Madeira, or there was last night, where the waves from either side of the island converged at different angles to create a state of random confusion that had poor old 'Spirit of Mystery' thrown all over the place. Added to this place of misery was a complete wind hole and we were trapped all night. Much of the time we had to drop the main lug as the mast was taking too much strain despite strapping it down. Indeed, I had to hammer in the wedges at the base of the mast every couple of hours.

At one point we managed two miles in three watches of frustrated effort. Every time a breeze crept in, the main lug would be hauled up to move her at a snail's pace to the west. Not much but just enough to exacerbate the pitching and rolling to the point of shaking the wind out of the sails; back to square one with gritted teeth.

At one point I popped up to see how Mark was fairing and his response 'could light a candle up here' made me chuckle as it was a perfect summary of the situation. Frustration of course serves no purpose and as the night wore on I settled into a state of acceptance. Mother Nature rules out here and you just have to make the best of what you have. In fact we had a lovely supper of Chicken and Mushroom Frey Bentos Pie with peas and mash so it wasn't all bad.

The early morning sun bought a whole new perspective as Andy handed over to Mark for with it came a light breeze and we were off. I woke at ten to find Mark stripped to the waste and making good speed amongst hundreds of birds. We are back in the running and are making six knots in the right direction with the big lug up and a lovely blue sky. The solar panels are topping up the batteries and Andy has just served up a lovely pasta lunch.

All our frustrations are behind us and for the first time it feels like we are not being driven by the project. Andy is on the helm listening to music, Eliot has just done his expedition journal and is now reading a book and Mark is deep in a book of his own.

Cheers Pete

We decided not to set sail yesterday evening thanks to a dark night, still slightly tired crew and a large sea running. We turned in for a good night's sleep to be welcomed by a 'beaut' this morning. A fair wind carrying big clouds bringing their own rain and gusts to the party. As the sun found its morning energy we had a huge array of rainbows playing around the rugged outline of Porto Santo, as it eased its way out of our lives and into the gloom. Porto Santo shall ever have a place in my heart for providing a pleasant little sanctuary in our time of need. I shall be back with Tracey for a proper ramble, steak and beer.

As Porto Santo faded into our wake so Madeira materialized into a solid landmark that has suffered the test of time, with its peak rounded off through years of erosion, steep sides and sheer cliffs. It is obviously inhabited by many sea birds given the number that have been gliding about the boat just above the water, stabbing the surface at what we have yet to make out.

No sooner had the boat settled into her sail plan and we slipped, without consciously realising it into ships routine. One on the helm and the rest either reading, sleeping or cooking. We have a long way to go and the thought helps an immediate gear change into a twenty four hour work regime. For myself I have found the break in Porto Santo a real tonic. I left Newlyn feeling completely depleted thanks to months of long hours and a high work load. On setting sail we never really had a chance of a break and I feel like a new man for stepping off the treadmill for a couple of days, layers of stress peeling away like an onion skin.

The sun is about to set off the starboard bow as I bash this out on deck, and the day could not be any more different from this morning. We have shed our foulies and sit becalmed in a loppy sea with an uneasy motion. I think the wind is on the change but it is also partly due to the wind shadow of Madeira.

Role on the big blue yonder and eating up the miles again.

Cheers Pete.

A video from yesterday's encounter with the Gorch Foch.