With the wind slowly becoming more easterly and the lumpy sea gradually flattening out into a more regular swell pattern, Nasdaq picked up speed yesterday as we shifted up through the gears. The reefs shaken out of the mainsail, and we changed up to a bigger Yankee. Will today be the day we remind ourselves how spinnakers work? The forecast suggests it might be.
Phil Wilkinson and Johnny Cole staffed the Nasdaq Bistro yesterday, and it felt that they had a point to prove after the 'failure' (in their eyes - not ours - we ate the lot!) of their sponge cake last time. Happy to report that they redeemed themselves well with raspberry flapjacks, and we will now expect great things from them for the rest of the way around the world.
Before the rest of the world comes Punta del Este, and the talk on board seems to be about little else these days - steaks and wine for everyone and Tango for Rupert Labrum! I have pointed out to the crew that talking about it doesn't bring us any closer, but excitement is rising and schedules are being made.
Anyway, I can now smell breakfast coffee brewing in the Bistro (thanks Kathi Lind-Mottram!), and after that it's time for this Skipper to get back into the Engine Room for my daily diesel bath - the secret of my young-looking skin.
Cheers, Rob.