Found another hitchhiker this morning on deck. This time a tiny 1 inch long flying fish. Too cute!

Today though wasn’t so good for TUI and at least one other boat. We received this message across fleet email.

“Catamaran HANUMAN reported colliding with an undefined surface object at 0315UTC. At the time of report on 09NOV at 0350UTC they were in approximate position 22° 00.49 N, 19° 31.17 W.

There is damage to the starboard rudder, and starboard engine room was partially flooded. The crew on board have plugged the leak and the situation is under control. There is also damage to the port bow that will be accessed at daylight.

All crew is well, and they are continuing towards Mindelo.”

TUI also had some more damage. A brace for our new boom brake disintegrated and while looking for the parts I discovered a nut that didn’t belong to the boom brake on deck. Where the heck did that come from? A quick search discovered our radar had become ‘loose’ and wasn’t secure against the mast. Arghhh. Too dangerous to send someone aloft in a bosuns chair with the rolling motion of the boat so we hope it won’t fall off and smash onto the deck before we make land fall in Mindelo.
It looks like we slipped back to about 40th position but we had a beautiful yellow moonrise tonight in consolation.