Live, as it happens from our intrepid reporters...

21:00UTC 21/11/08 32'00N 72'00W

Here we are at what is probably the height of our little gale. Winds have been gale force, 35-40 knots for about five hours and we have had gusts to 50kt. The waves have built magnificently, to about 4m, or 12ft, with curling crests and spray blown from the tops in long lines. Ty Dewi is riding it fine and fast, we've put away the jibs and are just reaching off in front of it with a deep reefed mainsail. When it really blows we run more down the wind.

I was wrong before, the front that passed was the warm front, it's brought settled, steady SW winds at gale force. The cold front is nearly upon us and we're waiting for the big wind shift to happen so we can settle down to that and have dinner.

A dinner that I prepared earlier, labouriously chopping many vegetables only to have the pan take a flying leap from the stove when we got a big gust. There was some swearing, but it landed down the back where it was neatly trapped and about 80% of it stayed in the pan. The rest fell on the stainless steel backing so was easily cleared up. Shame though.

Yan has been doing a sterling job riding shotgun on the autopilot, sitting a tthe top of the companionway steps to nudge us 10 degrees left or right to keep the wind at the right angle to the boat. In that position, in ful waterproofs, lifejacket and clipped on, he's sheltered from most of the waves and very secure. He also acts as a superb rain break when the squalls lash torrential rain from behind us. Only a few drops get into the cabin and he dries out fairly quickly afterwards.

Karla is reclining on the saloon berth with her feet up, reading a magazine and wondering what all the fuss is about, it seems. I quizzed her on whether she was feeling OK and it seems yes, warm, not scared and only a touch queasy so that's about as good as we can want from a novice crew.

OK, waiting for the wind to shift and moderate but right now, 38kt wind, 7.5kt boat speed and all is well.

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