BT Global Challenge - Leg 5 - 26/3/01

Conrad Humphreys sees the funny side of life in the Southern Ocean washing machine

Another hard night, wind is blowing 40-45 kts and it is pitch black. In fact, so dark you cannot see your hand in front of your face. Iceberg sightings have added a little tension to tonight's excitement, so we have one crew member watching the radar and another on deck looking ahead. The chances of seeing anything are very remote, but I like to always be proactive in these pressure situations.

Port watch are on at the moment, driving the boat under triple reef, storm stay and No. 3 yankee. We're currently 60AWA and steaming along at 11kts. Nice to be making course. The Kerguelen Islands are now just under 1200miles away to the north west. A passing gate where the fleet are sure to converge is situated at 47 North, and then we head west along the great circle to Cape Town, just a mere 2800 miles...

I've just polled a weather fax showing the sea surface isotherms and interestingly at 70East there is a large body of cold water pushing northwards towards the Kerguelens. I imagine we'll be in for a few iceberg sightings off these infamous French islands.

The breeze is looking a little lighter over the next day or two, which will allow us a little respite from the cold and a chance to mend some bodies. Everyone is nursing a few aches and bruises having been washed down the deck on a number of occasions. The wave that dented the dome also bent the pushpit and pulled one of the legs away from the deck. Luckily Annie wasn't hurt as she was thrown into the dome splitting it down the middle.

Another wave just broke over the boat, and I can hear some laughter. I hear Lizzie was washed down the deck finishing up between Dickon's legs. I guess she'll settle for that as a landing spot.