The good news aboard Finalmente is we are at 16 deg 48" N - 31 deg 48" W and blasting north. We are still anticipating a more easterly wind to lift us to the Azores but we have plenty of fuel if we get stuck in the high west of the islands. WE are currently 1334 nm fromthe Azores and the on board estimates are from 7 to 9 days.
We have pretty much adapted to spending 6 hours of our day at the helm. It's surpriseing to me that even though we are just 16 deg above the equater the evenings in shorts and T shirts are gone. We spend our time at the helm in a cool 20 + knot apparent wind. This mean jackets, pants and several layers. The good news is the saloon and cabins are warm and we have lots to read and many DVD's.
Shipping seems to have disappeard. We were seeing a ship or two a day, but none for the last couple of days. While near the Brazilian coast we saw a few dolphin and sea turtles, but out here just thousands of flying fish. WE find a few on deck every morning,and they are constantly flying away from the boat.
Time to eat. Potatoe, onion and egg scramble thanks to Randy.
More later.
Ray
/EX