Hi all! Life has become decidedly better then yesterday! We are on a fast beam reach, with a perfect Southerly wind force 4. I am doing hull speed (about 7.2). Yesterday I also missed Mervyn's social hf chat session because I fell asleep with the microphone in my hand! I was completely knackered. However, last night wind and seas moderated and I had some really good, deep sleep. This morning started grey, with fog between 6 and 8. But after that it's been cloudless. I also had a real good breakfast this morning (baked beans, fried bread and eggs), the first food I had since monday night when I made a mushroom stew with rice. The last bits of that I threw overboard this morning as it had got off.

The fore hatch still seems more or less watertight. however on investigation I have found that nearly all my clothing is wet, as are the vegetables and fruit, my tools, my spare electrics, and generally the whole foreship. It's a bit of a new experience for me; I am used to the fact that De Franschman is dry inside, whatever happens outside. Now the whole boat is sodden with seawater and sawdust. bah!

The second headsail halyard is still up the mast but, to my immense delight, does not hamper the operation of the other lines! It has worked it's way around one of the jumper stays and sits there quite nicely. If I have the chance I will climb the mast, but there is no immediate need for that now.

I also unpacked the first of the presents Jurrien gave me. I was to open it once we were out of sight of land. I decided that yesterday morning would be early enough, but then I felt so tired and generally miserable that I postponed it till this morning. Jurrien gave me a whole bagful of presents, to be opened at all sorts of occasions. I am already looking forward to the next present, but don't want to open more then one a day.

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