Lat 49'47.97 Long 08'34.64

Afternoon Pip. There you have it, 111 miles off Land End, more like Land Begins for us. We have 25knots from the south, the waves are dark and hitting the cockpit 2 or 3 times a minute. Boat speed 9knots and about 10knots over the ground heading west!

From the last time I wrote it has been eventful, but nowhere near the night before. We were tired from Saturday nights frolics in 35knots and no, not even a wet sleeping bag, sodden camping mattress and a condensation drip (that i can only liken to film torture scenes) was going to rejuvenate us. Engine still temperamental - (Bush - would you vote for an engine like that? but we're charging)

So it was fairly quietly and sensitively team Mowgli behaved yesterday.

We gybed early afternoon to head back NE rather than the destination south of france we had been tracking towards. Wind was still up at 27knts so no suggestions from either of us to change head sail. Jeremy hit the hay (god i bet he wishes it was hay) and i popped down to the chinese laundry to see if any of my wardrobe was dry enough to put on without shivering more. we have things hanging everywhere, not actually drying, just dripping into the bilges.......ah.....which at this stage i should mention is where i have been buried for the last hour.

Now before i explain my bilge horror, i should remind you that Jeremy secured a less financially significant but vitally important sponsorship deal with the Castle(local pub in Gosport) - thank you Pete - for enough pork scratchings for team Mowgli to do the qualifier and round the world.

As I filled a bucket from the bilge below the nav station, difficult to see what you're doing under there, i laid hand to a squidgy bit of what can only be described as flesh feeling gunk. I hurled the bucket out of the companionway with said gunk and quickly washed my hands and shut my eyes. The woodcock. Dear god, had it got in and drowned in the bilge. No, it wasn't the cute little bird that sailed a bit with us last week, it was a rehydrated pork scratching. if you eat them, each one is the size oaf a large pork chop.

Back to sailing yesterday. So, big waves were hitting regularly, each time an inspection of any damage followed. I noticed the horse shoe bouy had gone this time.  Quick whisper to Jeremy about the loss - had a half asleep reply of 'just pull it in love'. 10minutes later both on deck with foulies on, followed an hour long battle to get the dam thing back on the boat - yes it was attached with abut 20 meters of rope. Not sacrificing boat speed, oh no, we used lazy sheets, winches and a tug of war heave ho approach. Safely stowed now. The previous owner had an interesting approach to safety - a throwing line not attached other than its cover(that went Saturday) and a horse shoe bouy, attached. You'd be pleased to catch that traveling at 10knots....

Rest of the afternoon spent monitoring swedish cargo ship who altered speed and course more often than a woman changes her mind. eventually it passed behind us but bloomin near enough, i got his license and learner plates on camera.

Uneventful night, neither of sleeping much, just resting. Decided we would stick with a course of 100 degrees to the wind, started preparing to change to the gennaker but after much thought and discussion agreed not to. The wind is still gusting late twenties, and we don't want to spoil what has been acheived so far with a hasty sail change.

There followed some 'maintenance'. Cunningham number 2 wrapped around starboard tiller - had happened previous night and was jammed solid. Not causing any steering issues but a problem nonetheless. Success, wet sleeves and memo to selves, lines.....safely stowed.

so here i am, looking at weather in between writing this. We've got a big 24 hours coming from tomorrow morning -SW 30-35 knots again.

Hey ho, we're homeward bound, we're sailing, we're happy and team Mowgli are ready for it.

loads of love
Victoria & Jeremy