22 Jan: In the early hours we pass 52.5deg west and so into the next time zone GMT-4. We are now in the same time zone as the windward islands. Looking like we’ll arrive to Barbados Wednesday evening.

Less wind today so we are struggling to keep up the average speed we need to arrive before dark. Anchoring at night in an unknown place is never a great plan. Thinking about putting up spinnaker again as Glen has a new plan of how to fly it. But in the end we didn’t. Hmmm would have, should have, could have 🙁

A lot of lazing around the deck in the hot sun. Oana baking on the aft deck, Glen and Ellie lying on the spinnaker bed at the bow. Hmmm, if we had the spinnaker up there would have been no bed! Out beyond the decks the flying fish are still flying, the floating weed is as much as ever and there are some squarking birds in the sky – must getting near to land. But no dolphins today.

Before dinner the wind comes around more north and the cutter sail is backing. So away it goes and out comes the full main on starboard tack. 30deg off dead downwind and speed picks up nicely but we don’t want to go that way! On the correct course the main messes up the genoa, plus we have lee helm that acts like a break – so speed comes down to what it was with just genoa. It’s also more rolly and Glen is getting complaints from the master chefs slaving in the galley. So it’s goodbye mainsail again and back to foresails only. Much more civilized.

Ellie and Oana produce a wonderful Carbonara for dinner. And afterwards Glen wishes he hadn’t volunteered to wash up… this stuff sticks like glue! Into the evening the wind picks up making the ride more comfortable. Nice to hear again the water rushing passed the hull. We can probably judge the speed now just by this sound. Good day today – nothing broke and no chaffing. It turns out that Ellie was right about which way up one’s pole should be!