Change of plans!

We have spent the whole of today looking at weather info and charts and have decided that as the wind has now dropped to less than 10 knots there is no way we can make it to Morocco before the effects of the big storm system off the Irish coast arrives on Friday. This includes 8-9 meter seas! that's half way up our mast and really not the sort of conditions we want to be caught in given a choice. So Madeira here we come!

We will divert to Madeira which is now about 160 miles away and wait for the effects of the storm to pass, then maybe next week we will continue on to Morocco.

We had originally planned to stop at Madeira but the expensive marina costs changed our minds. We have now found an anchorage on the north east tip of the island which we will head for, and if weather conditions get really bad there is a marina a few miles away. It costs 50 euros a night with power and water being extra, but that's still cheaper than damaging Sunflower!

Meanwhile we seem to have gremlins in the boat. A very annoying and LOUD squeak has developed in out hard vang (the thingy that holds the boom up) and our electric winch which we use to raise and lower the main sail is also making complaining noises. We have also had problems with our email modem! Hopefully all of these can be sorted out in Madeira.

Now only 160 miles to go!(but wrong country:)