_______________INFANTACall Sign: MSQM9MMSI: 235065119 Iridium: +8816 316 56744

Well well well ………. the engine wasn’t terribly willing, and developed a raw water leak and a cooling problem, caused by a gasket failure, but simple enough to resolve, but not while under passage.

So we carried on sailing Infanta carefully, by which I mean attentively watching the wind speed and direction, making adjustments to the set of the sails accordingly. This is quite hard work on a 24 hour basis, but enormously satisfying and with Infanta it brings great reward. She sails so beautifully in light airs.

With 6 - 8 knots of breeze, which had now moved in to WSW and as such was on the port quarter, you would just not usually bother - putting on the donkey harnessed to the automatic pilot, and make a big lunch! But with Infanta, we boomed the #1 Yankee to windward, put a preventer on the main, set the mizzen staysail and dropped the mizzen (with the wind well aft, this assists in the set of the mizzen staysail), and she silently ghosted along at 4 - 5 knots.

As Wednesday afternoon came, the wind veered to the NNW, and we altered course straight for the Lizard. With the wind further foreward, up went the mizzen and the staysail, and Infanta was off - like a mutt on the scent of a cat - in just 9 knots of breeze

I went to bed at 2100, with all the lights visible of the Lizard, Lands End, Wolf Rock and Scillies. Coming back up at 0130, we were passed the Lizard Point and heading up the coast to Falmouth. The wind was N 6 knots. Simon had Infanta close hauled, and with the sea as flat as a seagulls instep, without any movent or heel, Infanta was making 4.75 knots under a canopy of stars, threading her way through anchored ships. We sailed into the Fal, and then along to the town, and at 0600 picked up a visitors mooring. After a quick tidy up round the deck, Simon Jane and I then watched the dawning of a new and sunny morn drinking rum and coffee liqueur at the cockpit table, making a lot of noise and generally celebrating our arrival from Vigo, and Infantas arrival home from the United States.

Well done everyone, and thank you to all the crew for helping with our travels.

Hi

I’m not in a very chatty mood, but for all of you who need to know, progress has been slow and frustrating.  The headwinds eventually died to nothing, and last night we motored through the centre of the high pressure to get gto the SW winds the other side. Unfortunately they have only been 6 - 8 knots in strength, and as the wind is coming from behind, this is worse than useless.

Result is that tomorrow night, Wednesday, we will make our landfall in Falmouth. We have 130 miles to go, so engine willing, we will get back into the UK then.  Cheers Tim

Position @ 1300 hrs Monday 21st September, 46*12’.27N 007*43’N

Even though we knew we had some head winds on the forecast for Sunday, nevertheless, beating up the Bay against 14 - 17 knots of breeze in the pitch black is no picnic, and again all the crew have had to draw on personal reserve not to get demoralised by the cold wet dark conditions for many hours on end. This of course has slowed our progress, for although we have endeavoured to make the boat go as quickly as possible, quite alot of the time, its not quite in the right direction!!

As is always the case, sailing the boat alone in the dark, one constantly questions whether the other tack would be just a bit more favourable, giving a better heading towards the destination. You look for little signs of a wind shift which could be a permanent improvement - and after an hour or so - you are sure that it would be better on the other tack, rather than heading for La Rochelle. So in the dark, you make the tack, trying not to get unseen hazards tangled in the flying sheets, like binoculars, torches, empty coffee cups, or worse your own safety line.

With the tack made, you get Infanta settled on her new tack - and lo and behold - there wasn’t really a wind shift, and as you sail along you feel she is being headed off all the time. Yes the wind HAS shifted, back to where it was, and some, and we are all now heading out into mid Atlantic. And so the frustrations of headwinds persist

So as the crow flies, we have covered some 260 miles from Vigo

The forecast we set out with said that on monday we would be in the centre of a high pressure, with very little wind - correct (and its hot sunshine) the forecast goes on to say that we will then experience some SW winds - lets hope so, otherwise it will be a case of Brest is Best.

So 9if you happen to see any SW winds when you are out and about, do please tell them to find Infanta.

Thank you

Tim

44*40N 08*45W

We had a reasonable night, but it has been northerly since 0420,but we are making reasonble progress, with part of the day heading for Ushant, although now we have been headed off as the wind starts to veer. Hopefully it will get into the NE to allow us to head N to join the sw winds! We shall see.

I have been really tired, just managing to see out my watches, but Smon and Jane are great.On reflection, having arrived in Vigo exhausted, and then only being able to sleep for 45 minutes occassionally, wondering how to get Infanta home, looking into transportation but with the looming prospect have having to face an Autumn passage across Biscay to get back has all left me worn down.

However, we are on our way, and alls going well.

I did a bit of shopping in Vigo for the trip, and with Simon in mind, or Imelda as he is now known due to the number of pairs of shoes he brought, ranging from seaboots to flipflops, I bought a number of cases of beer, 12 x 33cl tins for e3.09. I also found a chicken to roast for lunch on Sunday (today) which I would be able to promote to Simon and Jane as road kill. The chicken had been flattened out for some reason. That was all very humourous, and Jane has just made a great roast chicken spatchcock lunch for us.

I was photographed once at a press conference in Japan and the caption in the Times was along the lines that Blackman had lost the plot as he had no socks on. This was a relief for family and friends to see, as they realised the opposite was the case. Today, in a Northerly, in the Bay of Biscay, I have had to put on a pair of socks which, due to Infantas Odyssey, is the first time since April 2008. Getting back to the real world (?)

Tim

Positon: 42*55.763N 009*19.874W

1830 hours

Infanta is abeam of Cap Finesterre, about 3 miles off - and we are motoring with glassy calm water, and just a small swell running from the NE.

I drove down to Porto in Portugal for 2000 last night to Pick up Simon Warren and Jane Mendholsson who have kindly come out to help Infanta home

I have spent a weird week by myself in Vigo. On the one hand Vigo has a relaxing cafe culture, and is a great town, on the other hand I have been fretting about the weather prospects all day (and half the night) everyday. Down loading grib files daily at the very grand Real Yacht Club Nautico de Vigo. One day being full of otimism as the weather looks favourable, only to be cast down the next day, when the weather goes pear shaped with northerlies.

But finally, for the next few days (and before a northerly gale closes down the opportunity by the end of this week) the weather looks like we may be able to make the Solent.

We got back to Vigo at midnight, and by the time I had returned the hire car, and we had had a couple of beers - with the breeze still in the NE, we turned in to see what the morning would bring - which was grey overcast and rain, but by breakfast the wind, as predicted, had swung into the SW, and away we went to cheery waves from the Marineras.As we need to make good time, and the wind was only a few knots, we have motoirsailed al lday closehauled, as the wind soon veered into the WNW.

The sun has been out most of the afternoon now, and we are settling into a routine of watches. Thee is no wind at all now, but there is scheduled to be a period of northerly tomorrow.

I am really glad to be on the way home, and hope very much that we have a smoothish run with 600 miles to go.