Cape Verdes bound for Argentina - 28 Sept
by Kate Laird

14 34 N
25 31 W

We're back on the map. You should be able to see where we are on the map by going to: http://www.expeditionsail.com/plotframe.htm

After our 24 hours in the Cape Verdes, it was easy to get back to sea. We had some great sailing yesterday afternoon, but we've been motoring since about 2 a.m. in 6 knots of wind ... not enough to keep moving, and definitely not enough to keep up the 4.7-knot average we need to keep in front of some nascent hurricane activity south of the Cape Verdes.

Six flying fish for breakfast this morning...I'm saving them for Hamish.

I am suffering from a sunburn from one too many sail changes (3) during my 10-2 p.m. watch yesterday. Hamish said it is a court martial offense (self-inflicted wound) and I am feeling stupid and hot as I now have to wear a shirt.. Fortunately we have a good stock of "ocean potion" - aloe and lidocaine - and that seems to be helping.

We have set our watches to UTC for the minute, in order to make happy hour the best light...so the sun comes up at 7:30 and goes down about 7:30. It is very amusing to be able to be in complete control of when one has one's sunset.

Helen is reading Little House in the Big Woods. Little House on the Prairie is somewhere on the boat, but I can't find it anywhere. Oddly enough, apart from the two books we have about children growing up on boats, Little House on the Prairie is probably the most like their lives on the boat of any books they could read. Anna plodding along with her reading lessons, but it is hard to hold her attention for all ten minutes of the lesson! They are now clambering for Harry Potter III on tape. They listened to all of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone yesterday ...that's approximately 7 cds...and at least a Famous Five tape a day. Then they go off and play Harry Potter and the Famous Five for a couple of hours, so the entertainment factor is very high.

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