Enroute to St. Lucia, #1

Its a mildly boisterous afternoon in the southeastern North Atlantic. Clear sky, winds ENE 15-20 knots and seas running 6-8 feet from the northeast with a very long duration low rolling swell from the north. We're doing an easy 6.5-7.5 knots under a single reef in the main and about half the genoa, broad reaching on starboard tack heading about 270 degrees true. We're about 150 miles NW of the Cape Verde Islands and had to use this common "southern route" because of the current location of the trade winds. The old saying "head south till the butter melts and turn west" is working for us.

We departed Pasito Blanco at 1200Z on the 19th as planned and things have gone very well. No one has been the slightest sea sick. Dan has been cooking up some great meals and the BS sessions began on departure and have only quit for sleep and food. We have all flown together so long and know so many of the same folks and all have enough history that the stories may very well last the next two weeks till this little jaunt is completed.

The boat is holding up pretty well so far. We did lose a mainsail batten. The retaining pocket velcro came loose. First time that's ever happened with these sails. A mainsail mast car also broke, another first, and the first failure of any kind we've had from this Selden rig in more than 25000 miles. No complaints. My main worry is that these old UK Halsey sails may finally give up. They also have more than 25000 miles on them. Please sails, stay in one piece until we get to St. Lucia.

This blog post is being made via HF radio and Sailmail. Because about the fastest speed we're likely to get is roughly 6000 BITES PER MINUTE there are no photos and updates will be brief. Please follow our progress on the Pangolin Yotreps website as described in the previous post. Presently, 1643Z, our position is: 19.12N, 25.14W.

So all is well. We're reasonably comfortable and very well fed. Wish us luck!

Love to all,
Bill Wickman, Dan Strehlow, Booth Devitt and Bill Norton

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