During the night the pretty good wind continued. In the morning we set the gennaker for a very short time until the he wind reached the threshold speed. We changed it sails to main with reef 1 and the genoa fully out.

AWA of 120deg makes a COG of around 265 – 275deg while we have a BTW (bearing to waypoint at Sint Maarten) of 272deg.

Averaged over a few hours we are running 5.5 on STW with and SOG just bit higher because a current of 0.8 kn helps a bit.

The autopilot in wind vane mode keeps MaRe well on course. In about 20 h we are closer than 1000 NM to our destination, Sint Maarten.

As usual, just when we sat down for breakfast, a fish bit the bait. Unfortunately it got off of the hook. So G needs to get another one or change his plans for today’s meal.

A few minutes back, B called us because a bird – more than 1100 NM from the nearest coast – attacked the pink colored lure being pulled 100+ m behind MaRe. We are wondering what kind of bird it is. It’s neither a normal seagull not comoran, birds able to fly in high seas. Impolite as birds are, it neither introduced itself, nor did it handover it’s business card.

For the rest, the relaxed atmosphere on board continues. A bit overlayed by the feeling that we finally got the trade wind back and we are sailing fast and direct towards our destination.

One crew member is particularly happy because there will be a charming lady awaiting him in Sint Maarten.

MaRe is happy as well because she sails through a marvelous, blue sea with the white horses of a 5 Bft wind.