Final moments of the Atlantic

Jean-Luc van den Heede passes the Falklands

Day 31. Position at 1300: 52°02 S / 63°34 W
Wind 4 knots from S, moderate sea.
Temperature day 15°C / night 10°C / sea 7°C
Distance covered in the last 24 hours 220 Miles.
To Cape Horn 285 Miles.
Lead over P.Monnet 5 days and 15 hours.

Hello

I’ve gone by the Falklands and tomorrow I shouldn’t be far from the Lemaire Straits, as they are only 185 miles away. I was going along rather nicely upwind in a WSW wind, and then, this morning it came around to the South, which wasn’t very helpful. Then I was becalmed, which was even worse. I had taken in two reefs on the solent in a 35-knot wind, and now I’ve raised everything again, but I’ve only got 4 knots of wind left. If I’m going to make the Lemaire Straits tomorrow, the wind is going to have to pick up again.

It’s amazing how what I feel is so affected by the wind. Even if I have 5 and a half days’ lead over Philippe, I still want Adrien to sail along well, and above all, I don’t want to miss the short period of easterly wind, which should allow me to round the Horn downwind. There’s only a 2% chance of picking up an Easterly in this area, and it would be quite something if I get there at exactly the right moment. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Until tomorrow,

JL VDH

A day with Anthelme de Chambéry’s cuddly toy, a very cautious dog, as he has a lifebuoy around his waist!