Thermals back on

Slower progress for Jean-Luc van den Heede on westabout round the world record

Day 23 Position at 1300: 30°02S / 46°33W
Wind 15 knots from NE, sea slight.
Temperatures: day 24°C/night 15°C/sea 23° C
Distance covered in the last 24 hours: 243 miles.
To Cape Horn 1,799 miles.
Lead over P. Monnet 3 days and 20 hours.

Hello

On Friday afternoon, I experienced what was really my first time being becalmed in heavy seas, which were due to the 30-knot wind from the night before. The rigging took such a pounding with the mainsail banging violently around from one side to the other that I brought it in and waited for it to pass.

After waiting for four hours, a light breath of air picked up from the southeast, and I was able to hoist everything back up without any damage. I did however have to fix some screws in place on the ratchet gear and on the gooseneck, which were beginning to become unscrewed, when everything was banging around. I fixed them in place with a little webbing.

Since then, I’ve been making reasonable headway. Oh! It’s nothing extraordinary, as the wind isn’t blowing very strongly, but after a period like I went through on Friday, I’m happy just to hear the lapping of the water against Adrien’s hull, as she moves forward.

The nights are starting to get cooler, and I have to get some warm clothes on. Flying fish can no longer be found floundering on the deck, when I carry out my morning check, and I’ve just turned over my map of the Southern Atlantic to show the side with Cape Horn...

See you tomorrow

JL VDH

A weekend with Michel’s little white lamb from "La Fontaine aux Bretons".