Well the eighth week has certainly bought with it a change in climate. The wind has a southerly component to it and has reduced the temperature dramatically. The only saving grace at the moment is that the winds are relatively light and the amount of water and spray over the deck is minimal.
Therefore staying dry helps reduce how cold you get. The heating is working well and helping to keep Aviva and I warm and dry.

The breeze has continued to help with our heading west and during the course of the day has slowing been veering. We have gone from a broad reach to being on the breeze again. The swell is still quite large and has developed quite a rocking motion for Aviva to handle.

I have been getting the extra rest I promised everyone while we have been in these consistent conditions. I tend to sleep more at the chart table area when the wind is shifting direction or changing speed so I can keep an eye on everything easily. I have only tended to use my customised bunk in the saloon when I was sure things were not going to change for a while. I am finding I am naturally sleeping about 45 minutes at a time so I can fill in the log as I check all the wind instruments. If I am getting a big sleep in my bunk I tend to sleep for two hours maximum. That isn’t too bad when you add up several of these sleep patterns during the course of the day. I do struggle to sleep when it is light and given that the darkness hours are so short at present I have to use the time well.

I am calling into the London Boat Show at 11am and that will be at 5am in my time zone, so I am hoping it will be light already as otherwise I may sound a little sleepy.

Dee and Aviva