Thursday, 7th July

Note: published after arriving in Rodrigues

Today there is NO wind to start.  A while later a little comes up but no sooner have we got the sails up when it dies completely again.  OO, so we start the engine as rolling in glassy waters with huge swells leaves an awful lot to be desired.  Five minutes later, our brand new fan belt disintegrates.

All day working on repairs - no auto pilot, no Nav system, no charging, no AIS, no fridge/freezer, no nothing.

Our last spare belt doesn't fit so we use the remaining half of the old belt - hold thumbs.

Next, the spinnaker pole broke free from its goose-neck fitting at the top falling and almost tearing into the genny!  Paul had to climb mast to tie it back up in its vertical position.  Try this in huge rolling seas and yikes, bit dicey.

A little wind came up by the end of the day allowing us to sail at 3 - 4 knots but in huge seas.  Very uncomfortable.