Speeding Northwards

Another great day of sailing on BTP as I speed northwards towards the corner of Brasil. Making up miles on the fleet with these ideal reaching winds, I am having a Mich Desj moment. Should have fast speeds for the next 400 miles before entering the ‘Rio doldrums’ which have ensnared Sam for so long. Fortunately for us they should be moderating soon to allow a reasonable passage into the SE Tradewinds and onwards to the ‘real doldrums’. Right behind, birthday girl. Dee has her foot down and is getting more confident with her new ‘ventilated’ mainsail, so there is a real britpack race developing along the Brazilean coastline.
 
This morning changed sails from the spinnaker to the J1 genoa, then put a reef in the main and now sailing with the J2 solent as the wind filled in as predicted and came more from the beam.
 
I should be on this starboard tack for the next 4000 miles until reaching the Azores Archipelago, so I spent some time rearranging all the furniture to account for my house leaning over to the left. The more weight on the starboard side of the boat, the harder I should be able to trim in the sheets and the faster I should sail.  There is very little chance that the wind will be anything but from the easterly quadrant, but I could be proved wrong in a doldrum squall!
 
Sea temp 24 degrees at 29S 3820W. There was squid ink on the foredeck this morning so a squid must have got trapped on deck before escaping back to the sea, and I also found a tiny flying fish on deck. It will take a few days of sun bleaching to remove the squid ink, its powerful stuff. No more krill in the water now, its too warm for them, so consequently the sea and bird life not as rich as in the Southern Ocean.
 
Brian