Day 19

I’m here to report to you all that Tyla can bake! Despite her own misgivings, she emerged from her shell-shock and PTSD having produced a wonderful loaf of bread for lunch. The meal was made even better by the presence of silence – the motor was off, the sail were full, and the crew was munching on the tasty bread.

Joshua decided his bread wasn’t interesting enough, so he repeated an interesting concoction of: literally any sauce or spread he could get his hands on. This ranged from tomato sauce, to marmite, to apricot jam.

The motor did have to be started again later, and everyone spent the day reading through the heat.

At about 3 P.M. both of the fishing lines caught something at the same time… both Joshua and Ewan heard the ratchets simultaneously, and ran to attend the lines. The synchronization seemed almost planned. Joshua’s fish unfortunately got away, just as it was in reach. Ewan brought in a Dorado, which was braai’d with onions and spices, and eaten as an appetizer before our rationed supper.

When I say rationed supper, I mean soy mince and pasta with various cans of veg, not that there was any short supply of food. The “gannets”, as we’ve christened the hungry lads, did not go hungry, even though pudding wasn’t on the menu.

This morning is Kerryn’s 16th birthday, and she is treating the crew to freshly baked muffins and cake! She would appreciate some wind for her birthday so that we can get a move on (at the moment the boat is travelling at the whopping and super climatic and speed of between 0 and 2 knots), and the crew all wish her a very happy birthday and an exciting entrance into her 16th year on this earth