Canaries bound for Mar del Plata, Argentina - 25 Sept
by Kate Laird

18 03 N
23 40 W

Slow progress again, and there is a bit of groundswell, which is making it tough going as the sails "pop" with each deep roll of the boat, because there isn't enough real wind to keep them full in the apparent wind of the side-to-side whip. We're all comfortable onboard - everyone has his/her sea legs, but it is very wearing on the sails and by extension, wearing on the nerves.

Helen stayed up from midnight to three watch with Hamish last night and is very proud of having "stood watch."

Only two flying fish for breakfast this morning. Helen and I threw one back in last night at 11 as it was still alive, but there were rather a lot of scales left behind in the cockpit, so I am not sure it will have survived. Hamish is frying up the two. Helen is quite miffed that we didn't wake her for the 12 fish feed yesterday morning (she'd been up most of the night), so I think they will go to her. Poor Anna does not like fish, a definite disadvantage on a tropical passage.

Helen is reading Of Dogs and Men by Rick Atkinson. I don't think it has fully registered that she won't meet all these lovely dogs when we reach Antarctica (all dogs have been removed in compliance with the Antarctic treaty), but it is making her very enthusiastic about sailing to Antarctica.

You can learn more about the Lairds and Seal at their website www.expeditionsail.com.