Firstly email address - the zap email was set up as This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ie no full stop! Please use this new address.

As to why we have only sailed around the corner thats the real story. We had a 3 rd mast check in Antigua ( previously 2 in Canaries gave us the all clear!) and they picked up a failure in our mast spreaders. We're temporarily a motor boat whilst they rebuild our spreaders with the mast having been taken off Amelie. It appears that Selden 'dry built' our spreaders. There are Stainless Steel Fittings to the mast which are riveted into the Anodised Aluminium body of the spreaders, without a barrier there has been electrolysis/corrosion which caused the Aluminium to crack and the stainless fittings to bend. To rebuild they've welded Aluminium Plates on the outside of the spreaders and through bolted the new structure before epoxy painting to prevent corrosion. The alternative of new spreaders was a 4 month wait - not good for our rally plans.

The rebuilt spreaders are now complete and the crane is booked for tomorrow to get our mast back on. We then hope to leave Antigua heading for St Lucia for a couple of days before onward to San Blas and then Panama.

Apart from this all well.