[p]pjr4728
[s]
pos: 17 04.151n 061 53.057w
sp: 0.0
h: 0m
w: 15-16 ENE, CC 2/8 SS nil
d: 04/01/20 13.52 GMT+0000
FINALLY made it to Antigua and now sitting at the customs wharf in Jolly Harbour. Just c ompleted our fomalities and waiting on vet to allow Mili ashore
The last few days we've had some reasonable wind and calm seas, so very comfortable, if not fast. Of course, almost inevitably the best cnditions were saved for last, when yesterday we had a nice 15kn N/NE breeze on the beam...However as we still wouldn't make landfall before sunset we spent the best part of the day trying (and failing) to keep boatspeed under 4kn and in the end chose to 'heave-to' until daybreak about 10nm off shore (kind of like parking the boat using the sails rather than an anchor).
Apart from arrival, almost a bigger highlight occurred on New Years Eve just after the last YiT report, when we received an extended visit from a whale (about 7m long and still to be identified), who cruised alongside and under the boat for a couple of hours, much like we're more used to with dolphins. Fortunately it didn't seem to identify with Windchase as a potential enemy, or mate.
Mili appears to be very much looking forward to some shore leave, while the crew are aiming for Rum Punch and an extended sleep!
TTFN!

PS Antigua looks beautiful!!!

Last few daily runs (noon-noon in nm)
21: 108.7
22: 115.0
23: 109.6
24: 95.4 (+5.4 after noon)

(Total 2,801.2nm, in 580hrs at overall av speed of only 4.83kn....Not helped by 5 sub-100 days and only 4 over 130!. The minimum possible great circle route would have been 2,643nm)

[END]