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A fairly good crossing with no heavy weather, the strongest wind was around 25 - 26 knots.

The last week of the crossing was mainly motor-sailing and we got into Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda on the 28th September.

Cleaned the boat and crossed to Nanny Cay, Tortola the day after and handed the yacht over to CatCo on 30th September.

A couple of days sorting stuff out (and sending tools and the like back to the UK) and booking a diving holiday in Belize.

Many thanks to Ron and Teri for their hard work on the delivery.

Didn't see as much marine life (excepting flying fish :-) on this trip. A lot less dolphins, whales, etc., but got this video near the start of the trip:

- Dolphins (4 MB )

Caught quite a few on this trip.

Teri had a couple of rod's and reels and we fished on quite a few days. All told we hooked around 10 fish and managed to land 5:

1 x barracuda
2 x mahi mahi
2 x jacks

Expertly filleted by Ron, and then (on the barracuda) butchered by myself, we ate very well on this trip.

One of the fish we managed to hook (but not land was a BIG Mahi Mahi. Unfortunately he managed to shake the hook before we could gaff it - I reckon the fish must have been 25 - 30lbs. Ah well, maybe next trip.

Would have liked to have departed yesterday but there was very little wind here so left it another night.

Quick update on the Atlantic weather situation and we are departing in the next hour.

See you in three weeks!

Well, UPS didn't deliver as promised. In fact, they didn't deliver at all!

Maybe tomorrow. As one of the people in the chandlers said, "...it's not normal, but normal for here!"

The electrician booked was a 'freelance' sparks and, as such, any work done would not be covered by warranty. Even though he could probably have done the work, I couldn't let him touch it, 'just in case...'

The National Hurricane Weather site shows the system developing over Cape Verdes has already developed into Tropical Storm Josephine, best stay here for a day or so I think.

Well, the main sail part has not been delivered (though promised this afternoon), the Raymarine unit has been swapped out and the sparky is booked for tomorrow afternoon.

I had hoped for a late departure tomorrow or an early one on Wednesday but there is another system developing over the Cape Verdes - bloody weather!

Have had trouble getting hold of the part for the main sail: apparently I have to go to UPS to get it.

Strange, but I thought the whole idea with these postal services is that they bring the item to you!!

Unfortunately, they are not open until Monday, so...

Kind of fits in really because:

1) the replacement Raymarine unit won't be here until Monday at the earliest.

2) The sparky to fix my 12v outlets can't get here till Monday either.

3) There's a system developing over the Cape Verdes that looks to be developing into a Tropical Revolving Storm.

Ah well, two dives booked for tomorrow.

Arrived in Gran Canaria this afternoon and lots to do.

Can't get mains power so just a quick update before the battery on my laptop runs out.

Hope to be away Saturday or Sunday but we're waiting on parts for the main sail and there's a system building SE of the Cape Verdes which could track across the route I wish to go... more to follow...

Within two days the boat is looking like cardboard city again:

We depart early Friday morning and head out into the Bay of Biscay.

Manage to sail quite a bit, but with Westerly and SW winds blowing we have to put in the extra miles to get to the Spanish coast.

With 27 knots of wind blowing around the Galician coast and the boat managing a stonking 2.7 kts boat speed we head into Viveiro to moor up.

The marina is full so we sit at anchor for the day:

Head off shortly after midnight and manage to get around Cape Finisterre by last light.

Sail down the Spanish coast and then motor the rest of the way to Cascais.

Pick up my left stores from Jaoa at Techni Marine and we look to head off tomorrow for Gran Canaria.

Got into Orly, Paris around 2030 hours (one hour late) and a 4.5 hour drive to Les Sables D'olonne through some poor weather.

Teri (owner) was already on board with all her luggage and work started in the morning to prepare the boat for a Thursday pm/Friday am departure.

The usual supplies to buy: corned beef, spam, spam, spam, eggs, beans, corned beef, spam and beans, oh and spam! Protect the boat, get all the safety equipment, safety briefs, weather reports, passage plan, few beers and then go.

Across Biscay, into Cascais, Las Palmas, Virgin Gorda and then Nanny Cay, Tortola - well, that's the plan.

Raining as I write this so I'll leave the rig check for half-an-hour...