1544hrs 10 Nov 2005 UTC 41’56”S 051’17”E Ref 541
Steve – Tks 4 weather, big low sounds just what we need as long as it stays down south. Sailmail v spotty can only get connected local evenings approx 1600 – 0300 on lo fx – cant transmit over 10 megs – usb just dies every time. Have polished earth till shines -no help.
Malcom – T= 9.5 Brrrrr. Tks for advice – yep – we think it’s wind versus current effect.
I remember when we were about 3500 miles from Cape Horn. It seemed to be for ever and it was. But we got there, as we will get to SE Cape. To follow the GC all the way would take us down to 54 S – I doubt we’ll be that daring but it would save us a few hours. The flea is now trekking along the effalaunt’s belly heading for its little bedroom in a skinfold under the front end.
Gerry, if you’re there, cd U pse confirm that Derek still does long range skeds @ 0600 and 2100 UTC – trying to hear him – no go – have also lost VMW
For us, there are two remaining corners that have enormous significance – SE Cape is the first and turning left into Sydney Harbour 600 miles further north is the second, potentially by far the most important. There may be other corners – leaving harbour after the start, Tasman Island, Iron Pot, Port Arthur on the way home, but it’s the first two that count. And they do count – a year of planning, a year of sailing, all hanging off those two corners. If we’re late for the second one, we’ll be the guys who almost made it. In good company, perhaps, with some other heroic failures, but still the end of the fairy story. The whole achievement – Cape Horn, the Fastnet, the 5 Capes – will disappear when the first journalist asks ‘How do you feel about missing the start?’ so it ain’t going to happen if this little black duck can do anything about it.
The Examiner has started a different line of questions. It’s bloody cold here – I have a beanie down over my ears, a thick neck warmer, a fleece jacket over fleecy overalls over 2 layers of thermals with sock liners and waterproof sox and glove liners. The wind is fitful and fickle – we’re tracking just north of east -lousy for the GC – but getting us across. Just had dinner – beef strog with mushy peas – gut liner extraordinaire – and sent Pete (P13) to bed while I washed up. Tossed a spoonful of mushies out the back and the petrels were on to it instantly – about ten of them just fell into the water around where it landed – they fly around waiting for a head to appear and they all swoop in towards the stern. Poor things must be cold and hungry – they must use a few calories just hanging around.
Nothing much to report – we’ll keep truckin’
The logs ramblings can be cryptic, so we have added: