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Report 27 January - Team B on board Pelagic
27 Jan daily rept Weds 27 Jan 18:45. Drake
Passage 34-8knots wind, temp 9C and rain in sight. No Climate and Position Data
weather too rough.
The day started gently at our safe anchorage 10 miles north of Cape Horn,
reading books and chatting with a gusty wind (outside). But one E-mail from
Hamish to weather guru Bob Rice, in America, soon got a reply that had us
throwing on extra socks, fleeces and climbing into our heavy weather sailing
gear.
Hamish explained that the big low we were sheltering from had cleared through
the Drake but two intense lows were developing behind it. The advice was to
leave at once and run ahead of the new systems on the NW winds that precede
them.
Anxiety crept up as we moved from the bay and headed to the ocean proper. Three
dolphins appeared to see us off, finning alongside the boat- a good omen and
with Cape Horn appearing shortly after, we forgot about the 25 knot wind and
building swell. Adrian helmed, I filmed and we all enjoyed the moment, the Cape
tapering down from a peak into the sea- appearing majestic yet sinister in the
grey wind swept drizzle.
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That was 8 hrs ago. Right now we have 3 people in bunks with sea sickness (but
being well cared for). As I type this, the world keeps disappearing under water
as the boat heaves through the swell and the porthole submerges. As we take our
3 hr turn on watch, feelings run from intense apprehension to relaxed concern,
depending on the size of the wave that has just swept under the boat or gust of
wind that sends the mast juddering. We've all steered and there's a definite
knack to keeping on our bearing with everything trying to pull you off it.
Quite a buzz to feel the power come through the mast and rudder as the boat
drives up through the swell, which appears suddenly and steeply from over our
right shoulder, occassionally the size of a coach.
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We have good company in some huge wandering Albatrosses and the occasional storm Petrel (Wilson's- for the twitchers). With our skipper recovered from the flu (all day in bed yesterday being served tea by our trusty mate Kate) and only 96hrs of roller coaster ride to go, things are looking good, particularly as we've now finished Kates rather curious pasta dish. Hope all is well wherever you are and you're able to raise a smile. toodlepip for now. Jeremy- somewhere in the southern Ocean (would ask Hamish but he's a bit busy at the moment).