Dress Code: Shorts, plus t-shirt at night.

There was just a hint of orange in the grey sky, a soft grey that crept slowly out of the east. First it was the Milkyway, then the more distant, paler, stars that disappeared. Puffy balls of cotton-wool, so typical of tradewind clouds slowly turned, with the dawn, from black to white. It had been one of those magical nights that only the open ocean can bring. A toe-nail of a moon had sunk into the west early on leaving the heavens ablaze. The freshening breeze from the east-north-east had pushed us towards our goal, and now day was breaking. The sun silently creeping out to reveal the nights casualties, Flying fish, some as big as 7 inches, others barely an inch long littered the deck, one, two, three,…twelve this morning.

These waters seem to teem with life. Still no big whales. Common, Spotted, and Long-nosed Spinner dolphins, had come to guide us on our way. Pilot whales have escorted us too. In the air Great Shearwaters, Storm Petrels, and some like black faced gannets have inquisitively followed the boat, each defining their mastery of the air before leaving us to enjoy our sailing.

Africa is now 2320 miles astern, the Cabo Verde 1900 miles. Grenada lies ahead just 250 miles away.

It's blowing 25-30kts with 5m seas - fabulous to watch. Each blue roller lifts Avocette's stern to its foaming white crest, then we surf down its face, spray flying, and the water turns turquoise. The reefed headsail all we need; speeds from 6-9kts as we ride the waves send us ever closer to that beer…………..

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