Back in the breeze

Jean-Luc van den Heede experiences unnaturally clement conditions in the Southern Ocean

Day 42. Position at 1300: 52°28'S / 113°47'W
Wind 20 knots from WSW. Moderate sea.
Temperatures: day 16°C / night 8°C / sea 7°C
Distance covered in the last 24 h.: 133 miles.
To the antemeridian 2,498 miles.
Lead over Monnet 5 days and 18h.

Hi there,

Finally, I've found some wind. Yesterday was a very tough day. For the second time since rounding the Horn, I was sailing downwind, except that last time I had a 40 knot wind, while yesterday I only had an average of 5 knots.

The sails can hardly blow out in such little wind downwind, and the swell, which made Adrien roll made the sails bang around from one side to the other. I even took out the light spinnaker made by Pechiney Marine, but even that was no use, as it wouldn't stay in place with the rolling, and I need to make sure it's okay for the return trip up the Atlantic.

It was however fine and warm...19°C in the cabin, and the sun was shining so much that I put back out the solar panels to charge up my batteries. But when I look at how far there is left to go and at my slow headway in the last 4 days, all I want to do is get a move on.

Finally, after coming around at around 3 this morning, what a pleasure to hear the lapping of water on Adrien's aluminium hull, as she started to move forward again.
Now, I'm sailing close to the wind (close-hauled), but I am advancing.

See you tomorrow,

JL VDH

A day with Monique from Port-Louis' cuddly toy, a smiling tiger.