Back to the summer

Jean-Luc van den Heede takes a break from the South

Day 69 Position at 1300: 40°22'S / 115°55'E
Wind 13 knots from WSW. Slight sea.
Temperatures: day 19°C/ night 10°C/ sea 13°C
Distance covered in the last 24 h: 203 miles.
To the Cape of Good Hope 4,661 miles.
Lead over Monnet: 18 days.

Hello

As forecast last week, today was a really extraordinary day. It's almost as if I'd left the forties behind me! Mild temperatures and sunshine throughout the day, which allowed me to do some drying and also do what I haven't been able to do for a long time, just wear a T-shirt.

I took advantage of it to give myself a good wash and put away my clothes, which I shalln't see again, until they go into the washing machine!

This fine weather gives me the impression that I've almost arrived, but there are still 11,300 miles (20,000 km) to go. Try as I might to fight against this feeling, by telling myself that the Indian Ocean can also be very devilish, as I've seen before, this change in climate does make me feel euphoric. Moreover, with 10-15 knot winds all day long, I've been able to make good headway, sailing close to the wind, of course, but it felt great nevertheless!

On board Adrien, I turned on one of the two new wind generators, that I'd brought along as a spare. The port one was no longer charging. Everything is going well then. In a few hours I'll be passing Cape Leeuwin and will be saying farewell to Australia.

See you tomorrow,

JL VDH

A day with the cuddly toy from Bichette and Philippe of Cap Studio, a frog, which is green all over.