A few weeks ago I was begging for northerly winds. I didn’t realise you had to wait 14 days for delivery!

I was prepared for the fact that I would have a few tough days to deal with. Yesterday, the distance covered was pitiful. I’d love to blame the weather, but I was a bit pants too and didn’t really give it my all. I woke up this morning determined to fight the weather tooth and nail. Stepping outside the cabin, I expected to find horrible uncooperative winds. Instead it turned out that I’d got up before the weather! The sea was flat as a dodo, and I enjoyed a very pleasant start to the day. I even had the time to take a few pictures (yes, this isn’t just another sunset - this is a sunrise!).

Sadly, the winds were just having a lie-in, rather than the whole day off, and mid-morning everything kicked off. From that moment on, it was hard work. Pete is very good at sitting with the waves, which makes it a pleasure when they are going the right way. Sadly, for very much the same reason, I’ve yet to find a way around it being a horrendous struggle when the sea is going at right-angles to me. Despite having the rudder helping me round and pulling extra hard with my right arm, I couldn’t even get his nose to point towards Antigua, let alone go that way!

I decided not to look at my progress throughout the day, as I knew it would just frustrate me. Nevertheless, as the evening came, I felt satisfied with my efforts for the day. Looking at my progress, I’m not sure I should be! In the picture, you can see my nice calm morning, and then it all goes wrong. It turns out I was barely making a westerly dent in my progress south!

Days like today feel very long. The only way I get through them is with the help of Duck (his full name is Mildred Cheese, but he prefers to be known simply as “Duck” - I can understand why). He was a Christmas present this year, and is quite simply the greatest present I’ve ever received!

Not only is Duck a duck (that would somewhat limit his use beyond dinner), but he is also a radio, and a waterproof one at that. This means that my iPod can remain safely tucked up in the dry comfort of Pete’s cabin, sending the music out for Duck to play. I’ve been serenaded throughout the day by the kind of music I’d never openly admit to listening to. But it gets you through!

So there you go - another frustrating day, partially saved by a musical duck. Who says life out here is boring?!