Day in the life

Jean-Luc van den Heede demonstrates how he is not getting bored on board

Day 84.
Position at 1300: 38°33'S / 58°00'E
Wind 27 knots from ESE. Moderate sea.
Temperatures: day 18°C/ night 12°C / sea 16°C
Distance covered in the last 24 hours: 235 miles.
To the Cape of Good Hope 1,925 miles.
Lead over Monnet: 19 days and 14hours .

Hi there,

Lots of people have been asking me whether I ever get bored.... so here's an example of how I'm taking it easy.

Last night, at 0200 local time, the wind abated and it was raining. The front wasn't far off then. I still had the solent and one reef, so I had to be brave about it!

I got out of my warm duvet, put on my Guy Cotten waterproofs and my boots, then raised the mainsail once again. We went up from 8.5 to 10.5 knots. I took my clothes off and got back into my bed, which was still warm.

At 0330, the wind was still going down so I raised the genoa, once I'd again gone through the ritual of putting on the old sea dog's outfit. So there was nothing left to raise, but with the front, the west nor' westerly wind was going to back sou'westerly. As I had to keep an eye out, and daybreak wasn't far off, I decided to have my breakfast.

At 0410, I took my mug of hot tea like everyday with some Petit Lu biscuits spread with jam. At 0420, it was raining heavily. It was the front arriving and the wind was turning. I had to pick up the running backstay on the windward side, then come around helping the genoese go from one side to the other, as in light winds the solent roller stops it. I was off again at 8 knots on the other tack.

By 0500, the wind had come around towards the south, and I had to reset the pilot. Then, sheer joy! We start to take off again. The wind was getting up. By 0700, the wind was coming from the SSE. What a pleasure to finish the night off going along at 12 knots!

See you on Sunday,

JL VDH

A day with the cuddly toy from the Ami Lenglart company, put on board Adrien by Idée d'image.