Caught in the Doldrums

VDH nears the equator

Day 14. Position at 1300: 01°55’N / 26°58’W
Wind 20 knots from SE. Choppy sea.
Temperatures: day 29°C/ night 17°C/ sea 28°C
Distance covered in the last 24 hours: 206 miles.
To Cape Horn 4017 miles.
Lead over Monnet: 1 day and 13 hours.

Hi there,

Although I’m getting very close to the Equator now, and should cross it tonight, for the moment I’m still in the Doldrums, which seem to have been going on forever, since I had my first squall at 9°N. But I’m not going to start complaining, although I have had lots of work to do and adjustments to make.

But I’ve hardly ever lost the wind, and my average speed is holding up well in this area, which can be difficult to go through. I hope I’m currently going through what will be one of my final squalls and that the wind will come around after that to the SE.

Since yesterday, there have already been southeasterly waves, so the wind can’t be far off...

In any case, I’ll be happy to be in the Southern Hemisphere with a day and a half lead over Philippe Monnet and one day ahead of my attempt from last year.

See you tomorrow,

JL VDH

Day in honour of "BIG EARS" Alice’s cuddly toy.