From one of our best days to our worst with only 25NM being managed over the last 24hrs of effort. Well effort isnt quite the right word for much of it was spent with the sails on deck to save chafe as we waited for the wind. Oddly enough it was actually quite a fun 24hrs for it offered real contrast and change to the routine that has become part of our lives. With the tiller lashed a watch became quite liberating as one could wander round, read a book, make a cuppa.

We had a nice meal on deck with a sundowner and apart from the lookout went to bed for the night. During the day a lack of wind gave an opportunity to give the running rigging a once over which is always nice. There was the occasional period of frantic activity during the morning with huge clouds bringing very strong winds and rain. In fact you could watch a wind line tearing its way towards us was a useful warning that things were about to get exciting.

One point of interest is that Andy shone a torch over the side during his watch and there were loads of insects on the water skitting about much like a water boatman on ponds at home. Perhaps it is these that the small birds are feeding off as they dart here and there amongst the waves.

This morning saw a gentle breeze pick up from the NE so it was up with the sails and out with the secret weapon to give us a very grateful 3-4Knts of boat speed. This heralded a morning of work on the boat from a good old spring clean to sewing up some chafe on the log line which had tangled on the rudder and propeller as we were caught in irons on one of the gusts.

So Spirit of Mystery remains a very happy ship as we continue to trundle our way south as best we can with what we have - hope to crack 8 degrees North this afternoon so one can't deny that progress is being made.

Cheers Pete

I am sat below twiddling my thumbs after a day of hard work going nowhere, literally nowhere! We have just had supper on deck with all the sails down as we wallow in an oily sea with a dark overcast sky. When I say nowhere I mean it, for we have had the wind boxing the compass and ranging from a gale with driving rain to wallowing like a pregnant duck. The big lug has been up and clawed down in a rush on numerous occasions, as big clouds bearing torrents of rain and wind have swept over us to leave a vacuum behind filled with a confused and frustrated sea. The highs and lows of a voyage in forty eight hours, it's hard to believe that last night we were doing seven knots into a vibrant horizon with all the signs of it continuing into today. The funny thing is I don't feel the least bit frustrated - yet. I dealt with those demons a few weeks ago and just live for the moment for despite the lack of progress it has been a fun day. Mark sailed up to some rubbish on his watch and turned round an hour later to find it overtaking him! What can you do but chuckle?

Cheers Pete

This is going to be a short blog as it's been hard work for a while and I am overdue on some sleep. The last 24hr run was fantastic with 150NM of great sailing under our belt. Midnight saw us crack ten degree's North which we have always seen as a milestone and dawn knocked of nine degree's. During the afternoon yesterday we dropped the big Mizzen having noticed that the line lashing it to its spar had chafed through and needed replacing. The reality is that I am really surprised at the lack of chafe when you look at everything we have up in the air.

This morning, just after our fantastic run we hit a brick wall. A huge and menacing cloud line swept up over us; I donned my foulies and called Eliot on deck as he was due to replace me and waited to see what it would bring. Heavy rain preceded strong winds so it was all hands on deck to drop the big lug, and we spent an hour with the mizzen and jib watching the compass swing round to the west as we were headed. We tacked and put up the big lug with a reef and have since been trying to make some ground to the south and east. The trouble is that we have a very confused sea and the moment we get moving she is thrown off course and we have to start all over again.

I think it is just a case of holding on and waiting for more favorable winds to come along. I also think we can safely say that we have entered the Doldrums and have some frustrating times ahead. All the more so for knowing that the clock is eating into our arrival for Christmas. This brings me neatly on to gifts, and one of Eliot's highlights is to open one of his presents from Tracey and he has been counting down the days until the next one which was today. He took ages feeling them all trying to decide which was next and the result is a card game of which we will have a go at later and some sweets. It brings a bit of Mum into his life and his smile is worth its weight in gold. There's a big hug on its way to Cape Town Tracey.

I also have a present but will wait until tonight as it's time for some kip.

Cheers Pete

We have had a blinding night of perfect sailing which has delivered a very gratifying 135NM. This is all the more satisfying when you consider that in the first six hours we had only managed 24NM.

The evening saw the wind pick up and we were off with the boat feeling more alive than it has for a long time; this is what I call trade wind sailing and it looks like it might hold for a bit despite the fact that we are closing the Intertropical Convergence Zone or Doldrums. They are starting to show their presence with very humid hot conditions that make life hot both on deck and below right round the clock. Last night we started to see the beginnings of trade mark thunder clouds and I even had to slip my foully jacket on for a rain shower.

One of the surprises that have come from all this is how effective a 'Cobber' is. Jonathan and Bess Hayward gave us all a Tally Hat for the voyage - and they are the best hats in the world - and as he handed them over he said 'got some Cobbers as a bit of fun'. Jonathan, you would be amazed at how good they are at keeping you cool. They are like a thin scarf that when soaked in water swell up into a sausage that keeps cool through evaporation and being round the neck cools the Carotid Artery and they work for days. I wouldn't have believed it but have a look for yourself on www.bodycool.tv.

We had a couple of interesting sights yesterday with what we think were shoals of Tuna jumping out of the water much like a Salmon would. Loads of them, and we are wondering what would have caused this, some predator we assume? Needless to say Eliot has his line and best lure out in a flash but to no avail. When I relieved Mark last night we had a quiet cup of coffee on deck and were joined by a pure white bird that hovered about the boat. It was quite eerie as it glowed in the moonlight, quite beautiful. At the end of the watch swapping over with Eliot we were joined by Dolphins playing under the bow and we shone a spotlight on the water and they loved it, bunching up and performing for their audience.

We also had a huge ship pass very close down our port side and had a good old chat on the VHF. She had carried coal from Australia to Rotterdam and was on the way to Brazil to carry Iron Ore to Japan, a voyage that will take 31 days. From there she will repeat the cycle again meaning that she will complete just under two circumnavigations in the time we take to make Melbourne.

This morning has been a make and mend day with a clothes wash and sowing up a seam on our light weight Cornish sail.

Cheers Pete