Oct 24, 2005 – 0500hrs UTC

0500hrs 24 Oct 2005 UTC 38’16”S 016’46”E Ref 478

We Are Not Amused. Full story later if this eventually blows thro. We’re still ok, minor damage. Running engin to charge. Will ring satphone approx 0900 utc for any meaasges  – if poss long range forecast ta. Bloody long night – everything soaked with condensation – didn’t have time in fmth to replace insulation. diff to keep computer dry. Satcop iffy, but will trty to keep turned on -pse send to both tfn‘till further notice’. still huge waves, nasty breaks. Love yez all.

Ed: 20 mins later….

Will try quick blast while can. You’ll have to interpolate aound keyboard mistakes – good glasses still missing, also one sandal – how can you lose a sandal?? First knockdownWhen the boat is severely rolled or knocked over sideways, normally when beam on to big rolling breakers. was serious – threw me through leecloth (lesson 1 – not srong enuf) across boat in welter of gear- boat a shambles but all small stuff except big heavy draAWER UNDER NAV TABLE LIFTS IF BOAT ROLOLED TO STBD AND launches. Pete ok, laptop went flying in later knockdownWhen the boat is severely rolled or knocked over sideways, normally when beam on to big rolling breakers. little darling still running! Every wave potentially lethal thro night – much anal clenching. Have stitched together a bunk using spectraSpectra™ : - a highly modified polyethylene fibre with many applications such as ropes and sails, cable ties and blind faith and should be ok – just had big crash – photos if poaa later. Having berri brekky bacon sand in ryvita and Doctor to lubricate passage. bare polingExplanation here @ 3 kt NE

Schedule almost certainly stuffed – damn – will keep driving as wxShort for ‘weather’ imporves. May try to stay further N so Malcom, poss of contact(did i say that??)

Went around deck this am at dawn – moved banging halyardsLines to hoist the sails, put more knitting on main – has big tear v low down near gooseneckThe fitting that connects the boom or a spinnaker pole to the mast. – not showstopper. Evidence of massive wave dumping onto cockpit – mob sling stove in etc – engine recalcitrant – bled and managed to start – battery charged – cant make water on this tack in these conditions to do with geometry of seacocks etc. (lesson 2)

Waiting for seas to abate – maybe! – then will try to sail. Birds stillall around – image of albatross in storm still vivid.

still gusting 50 – last gribWeather files. Graphics in Binary file: GRIB files associate a specific weather datum (eg wind velocity or atmospheric pressure) with a geographic position. Because the resulting file is a collection of these points they are extremely small and so ideal over slow links such as sailmail. 3 days old indicates calm patch in hi tomoz then another storm. Will keep trying to get north.