Sailing back to SA - day 4

All is just about well on board Rocket.
T-Y unfortunately is not feeling in the best of health.
He started becoming not well on the first day--and yesterday and last night was not felling at all well--hit a real low.
He has a nasty, chesty cough, infected/soar ear, and a running nose.
However i think today things look like they are on the mend.
I have asked Johan Brink to advise us what to use from our Medical Kit
He thinks he got an infection when he jumped into the Water in the Rio Marina.
This was on Wednesday Morning.
We went into the pier to fill up with diesel.
We did this at 0630 am, as this was high tide.
After filling both diesel and Water tanks, we left the pier on falling tide---never a good idea.
Well we got temporally stuck on the bottom, and our hero T-Y grabbed a rope and dived into the water and swam to the side.
By the time he got there we had managed to get ourselves off the bank under our own engines.
As our Rio team know--the water around the Marina is Ugly !!!

This is day 4 and sailing has been great.
We recorded a Trip Distance of 187 nm for day 3.
In the 3 days we have been sailing we have covered 553 nm as the crow flies from Rio Marina.
Last night was beautiful sailing----smooth, near full moon, beautiful sky filled with stars shining down on us offering us a good journey, and warm--no need for Wet Weather gear.
Our average speed was between 7 and 8 knots.
Today wind is around 14 knots.
We have Main Sail up, Genoa on pole ( Flying Gull Wing ) and the Stay sail up ( T-Y's idea).
This gives us a speed of around 8 to 10 knots, and easy sailing-lovely.

We now have a herb garden on Board.
Shin bought some Basil Herbs( this is what he says and who are we to doubt him !!) in Rio, and these plants are now growing nicely under the Spray Dodger.
When eventually these herbs hit our food plates i will let you know what effect it had on either the food or us crew members.
Our fishing attempts have still shown no sushi.
We have dragged the fishing line some 4600 miles--and not a fish story to be told
This morning Shin caught a piece of Plastic !!
We then had a discussion on the negative effects of Plastic on our oceans.
It is a major problem.

We are all looking forward to going to Tristan da Cunha.
We have some 1260 nm to go
An island of 12 km in dia, and a population of 264 .
It is a Volcanic cone that starts some 3500 m below sea level and rises to 2000 m above sea level.
They had a volcanic eruption in 1961.
Luckily it did not destroy the village.
They have only 7 family surnames residing on the island.
We intend to visit the mouth of the volcanic crater, St Mary's School ( worlds most isolated school ), The Albatross Bar and take a long walk through the village center.
We should get there early Sat morning.
Only hope the weather is good as we have to Anchor.

Today has been the most relaxing day so far.
We are either listening to Music, reading or sleeping.
In retrospect--i am glad that our Auto-Pilot is out of action--it's a pleasure to helm Rocket-and the vast emptiness of the Atlantic Ocean is quite mind-blowing--it is soooooo----- beautiful---and ever changing.

That's it from a relaxed Rocket Crew
Regards
Rex