An oily sea

Tricky times for 40 Degrees in Artemis Transat - but there is always Bonne Bouche's Millionaires cake for morale

Friday 16th May 2008

Sponsors Of The Day :
22W Stag Gates Garage & Marine - http://www.stag-gates.co.uk
23W Chris Marsay
24W Sail TV - http://www.sail.tv
25W Bonne Bouche - http://www.bonne-bouche.co.uk

Time of Position : 0700 UK time
Latitude 46 18.09' N Longitude 26 04.49' W
Ranking : 5th
Average Speed : 5.6 knots
Distance To Leader : 27 miles
Distance To Boat Ahead : 3 miles
Miles To Marblehead : 2064.3

Minutes after yesterday's report, Miranda went up into 3rd place and stayed there until the final poll yesterday evening, which registered her back in 5th place. The fleet are crossing a ridge perpendicularly and trying to get their boats to go faster than wind speed, of which there is little! Miranda will be hoping that the ridge does not fold early and benefit those in the north first. Whoever breaks through first could make big gains and positions are likely to be re-shuffled.

Please note that as of 1800 GMT Friday evening, there will be a fleet position blackout until Sunday 0600 GMT. Those sponsoring the relevant degrees will be promoted on Sunday/Monday, so as not to give anything away to Miranda's competitors!

Miranda reported in this morning:

"The wind speed since late yesterday afternoon has been between 2 and 12 knots, as the fleet negotiates the ridge of high pressure. Right now, there is 2.8 kts. Lots of tea drinking and not much sleep going on! Just keeping the boat moving is non-stop work, and even as I write this, I am going up on deck every couple of minutes. I can see another boat on the horizon, which is possibly Beluga. The sea is oily calm. Didn't know the North Atlantic could be as pleasant as it has been since the start! I'm sure it will show its true colours at some stage."

"I had a small bird on board yesterday - presumably migrating and needing a rest. It decided that the inside of the boat was the place to be, and I chased it out several times, having visions of it dying there and not being found for days. Bold creature that it was, it kept coming back, emptying itself on the chart table, roosting in dark corners, occasionally taking off for a victory lap of the boat, and returning straight down below. It
eventually left after a few hours."

"It's Friday, and Friday evenings at sea are the only ones that really register, because if I was at home, I would be spending the evening with friends in my local, The Bugle. The only alcohol on board is a small bottle of rum given to me by Tony Lawson to 'melt the icebergs', which I hope not to encounter further down the track! Therefore the bottle remains sealed."

"Thank you to the following for your degrees of longitude: 22W Stag Gates Garage & Marine - another Bugle encounter - thank you! 23W Chris Marsay - long-standing friend of my parents, who sailed across the Atlantic with us when I was about 12, and taught me the word petulant (in relation to me, not him!) 24W Sail TV who are being very supportive of this race; 25W Bonne Bouche - the millionaires shortbread supply is being strictly rationed to one a day - delicious.

Miranda
46 16 N 26 07 W"
www.40-degrees.co.uk

Today's sponsors

Stag Gates Garage and Marine has been trading for 30 years and we provide a traditional, prompt, friendly and non-sexist service. We carry out servicing and MOT repairs and also major repairs (including diagnostics) to all vehicles

Sail.tv is the world's first Internet TV channel dedicated to sailing. Available 24/7 to anyone worldwide with an internet connection, Sail.tv brings over 100,000 unique viewers the very best sailing news, action, event coverage of product reviews. From America's Cup highlights to Olympic sailing, World Match Racing and Round the World Ocean races, Sail TV is the central point for the best footage in the sport.

Bonne Bouche, the deli and caterer in the heart of Hamble, has been feeding sailors since its early days...whether it's a quick bacon baguette and a coffee on the way to the boat, packed lunches for racing round the cans, delicious buffets for corporate days afloat or frozen meals for deliveries...Miranda has been a loyal customer for many years and is very partial to our coronation chicken and avocado..but for those stressful moments we have packed her off with here favourite treat...millionaire shortbread, best wishes for a great race.