Into the south

Jean-Luc van den Heede picks up the south easterly trades of the South Atlantic

Day 16, position at 1300: 5°14 S / 31°16 W
Wind 19 knots from SSE, choppy sea.
Temperatures: day 30°C/ night 17°C/ sea 27°C
Distance covered in the last 24 hours 270 Miles.
To Cape Horn 3517 Miles.
Lead over Monnet 1 day and 23 hours.

Hello

Since crossing the Equator at 04:11 on Saturday morning, everything has been going well!

I have picked up the fine SE trade winds. With my ballast tanks filled with three tonnes of water, I should manage at least 250 miles per day without any problem, especially when the wind gradually comes around to the East. For the time being, I am sailing upwind but not too close-hauled, under the solent and full mainsail.

I have carried out some minor repairs. I managed to find the tiny fuel leak in the portside Volvo engine. It was just a screw, (which had worked loose because of the vibrations, I suppose) that needed tightening up a bit. Then, I patched up the mainsail, where it had been rubbing on the reefing point.

I’m keeping an eye on anything that rubs and cahfes all the time. Last night wasn’t the quietest of nights, as I was sailing along with a cargo ship on either side of me, and they were both on the same course as me and were hardly making any faster headway. I had them within sight for a large part of the night. Now they have moved off and I’m going to have a little nap!

Until tomorrow,

JL VDH

Weekend in honour of Pauline, Chloé and Raphaëlle’s teddy bear.