Yesterday we crossed the International Date Line and gathered on deck to cheers it through, a lovely celebration of an outstanding feat for everyone on board. Crossing into yesterday we are now halfway longitudinally back to the UK. It is a great milestone and some delightful conditions to cross in: Code 1 up, flat boat and beaming bright sunlight.
The great sailing conditions were short lived, and as the night drew in we slowed right down. However we managed to never quite stop which was a positive. We took the opportunity of the light winds to get up the rig for checks and jobs. Our Yankee halyard has been greatly chewed by the mast and it was a good time to swap it out for a spare we have been carrying for such an eventuality.
The report from the top of the rig, "no land, no whales." Positive: I wasn't expecting to see America quite yet. Negative: some whales would have been quite pleasant.
The light winds indicate that we fell into the high-pressure ridge and haven't managed to keep ahead of it. A shame but not unexpected. This will give the boats in front an opportunity to pull ahead and now keep them in a different weather system. All is not lost, and we are keeping a positive mental attitude as there is still over 2,000NM to go. In the last short while the breeze has filled in from the south meaning we are once again sailing on a nice clean course towards Seattle in some lovely flat seas.
On deck chat: Numerous media ideas, one involving a bottle of mouth wash, a Yankee halyard and a Canadian, goodness only knows, think I have been reading too much Douglas Adams.
On deck snacks: Layered wafer things. I think brandy snaps, but with the worlds flakiest wafer. Nice but best served with Nutella (other spreads are available.)
On deck music: Apparently classical is the choice of the day
Max and the clean teethed, and classical crew of CV21
P.S. Whales if you are out there, we could use a visit, all other boats are reporting sighting but nothing on CV21.