April 27 Day 8

0900 (St Martin time)

Trip metre 4806

Distance to Horta 1868

Distance sailed in 24 hrs 78nm

Distance made good 65nm

Yesterday was a good day.  The wind settled from the SSE averaging about 8 kts.  After some pounding in the beginning the sea also settled down so I could open the hatches.  Nice sunset.

"Saw" a ship on AIS 12.5 mile away, lost signal at 17 miles.  Then saw a ship about 4 miles away that closed to within half a mile.  We had a chat on VHF.  Doing 8 knots to my 4 knots so disappeared over the horizon.  The night was very smooth sailing with the wind weakening and Nuts slowing down. Slightly more breeze since dawn.  Then another ship appeared on AIS., called Black Pearl, 105m 3 masted yacht.  Chatted to them too.  They left St Martin 2 days ago, doing 12 knots, ETA Ponta Delgada on 5th May at 1600.  Maybe they can give me lift.

Another  cooing lesson:

Fry onion

Add bully beef

Stir and fry a bit more to blend flavours and add fragrance to the ambiance of Nuts dining hall

Dig up some "fresh" potatoes from  a locker 

Sprinkle some magic hot H2O potion and stir

Then add sautéed onions and bully and garnish freshly prepared potatoes  with pseudo gravy barbecue sauce

Finish off with freshly ground black pepper and a sprinkle of salt

Must be a Gordon Ramsey special as I'm in the kitchen from hell