Day 13

Distance run in last 24 hours: 147 nautical miles

Distance to destination: 866 nautical miles

The crew of Alcedo have been inspired (and relieved) by the realisation that there are now less than 1000 miles to go, and conditions have improved slightly over the past 24 hours.  There is a little more wind, and from a slightly better angle, and even the relentless swell has been more helpful, giving us an occasional surge as we semi-surf down a wave.  There has been marginally more sailing, and marginally less motoring, much to everyone's relief.  Today has been mainly cloudy, and the sea is a dark foreboding grey-blue in colour.  The flying fish have returned, although not in their earlier numbers.  At lunchtime a bird no-one had seen before swept by astern - subsequent research identified this as a female white-tailed tropic bird (a first for the 'twitchers' on board).
The ship's clock will be adjusted for the third time today, as we close on 45 degrees west and move to three hours behind UK time.  Accordingly the skipper is currently on watch - when the ship's clock moves, David stands watch for one hour so that our daily pattern of watches does not need to be amended.  The GRIB files show that we should have a lot more wind (up to 25 knots) from Monday, and if correct the final few days might provide quite exciting sailing.  As for the so-called trade winds, mention of these now produces only bitter and ironic laughter on board.