Crossing the Atlantic Ocean (Day 2) Christmas Day

Overnight we had a technical issue: the Bluetooth link between the notebook and the HF radio failed. We either need an internet connection to install a new driver for it or to replace it, neither of which we’ll be able to do for a couple of weeks. Fortunately, we managed to get it going with an old USB cable but it seems to be a bit temperamental, losing connection when we transmit on certain frequencies. It’s important because it’s our primary means for getting weather updates during our passage.

For a short while we had a hitchhiker on board   

Aside from that, it was a day of settling back into life at sea. The morning’s count of flying fish on the deck was 7 whilst another one, which flapped about in the cockpit during the night, was returned to the sea by Nicky. Overnight I got hit on the arm by a squid which had jumped off a wave top and been blown into the cockpit. In the morning we were briefly visited by a small pod of dolphins and we even had a migrating bird stop by for a rest. All very wildlife show ish!

Christmas tree decorations. The angel was made by Claudia on Bruno’s Girl   

Our Christmas celebrations started with coffee, a glass of Madeira and some Panettone. We then decorated our Christmas tree (upturned motoring cone covered in green crepe paper) with chocolate baubles and hung our coloured Christmas fairly lights around to give BV the right atmosphere. We still ran the watch system but that gave us the main meals together and a few hours during the day so that we were able to put together the traditional [BV at sea] Christmas dinner of beef in beer with mash and winter vegetables.

It’s overcast and hazy with 15-20 knot of wind but warm. BV is moseying along at about 6 knots with a conservative sail plan and so it’s all very relaxed and the miles are gradually ticking down. We spent the day thinking that we should shake out a reef to make us go a bit faster but each time just as we had summoned up the energy to do so, the wind increased by just a couple of knots which pushed the speed up again. Probably a job for the morning as we really are going at a sedate pace and BV could handle a lot more sail up.













Position at 0001 Tue 26 Dec: N16 45 W028 37
Distance run 2359-2359: 148nm
Distance run so far: 214nm
Distance to waypoint (just N of Barbados): 1806nm

End of Day 2 position