Cape Verdes bound for Argentina - 3 Oct
by Kate Laird

0 55 N
27 40 W

Sailing along on a fetch (wind at 45-50 degrees off the bow) in 20 kts apparent. Jimmy the Aires wind vane is doing a stellar job, holding us right on the wind angle. We are a bit off course...the southeasterlies filled in a bit earlier than we would have expected, but hopefully we'll be freed a bit as we approach Brazil.

A bit of excitement yesterday when Jimmy's steering leg froze in the down position (we lift it up to prevent damage when we are motoring), but Hamish was able to mend it. The locking mechanism worked by sliding on a washer that had been glued in place. The glue was obviously not able to cope with the torque of the lock, salt water, and aluminum and stainless surfaces. Hamish pulled it out and set to work with drills, taps, hacksaw and file and fit a set screw to it, and it's back in service.

We spent most of the afternoon motoring under a dark cloud with the wind cycling through 360 degrees. We felt a bit like the Peanuts character who always walks around with his own personal storm cloud. Then the wind began to fill in from the southeast. We thought it was just the edge of the cloud line, but it has been with us for the last 12 hours very steadily, so we are optimistic that these are the trade winds.

The three of us who have not yet Crossed the Line (Kate, Helen & Anna) are getting a bit nervous about what King Neptune has in mind for us.

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