Race 2 - Day 5
Crew Diary - Race 2 Day 5: Punta del Este to Cape Town
09 October

Michael Husband
Michael Husband
Team Dare To Lead
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As the old joke goes “Winter draws on” well it certainly does down here in the roaring forties in the Southern Ocean on our way to Dale's (our skipper) home port of Cape Town.

Everyone has broken out their thermals, warm mid layers and gloves etc. but you aren't going to breathe any cleaner or fresher air than that which the southerlies bring up from Antarctica. There is more bird wildlife down here with the Black Petrels playing on the breezes and the Albatross (not a great one yet) gracefully gliding along without any apparent effort.

This description belies the experience we had at race start with gusts (I'm told of excess of 45 kph) a mere zephyr for the Southern Ocean, Dale said, and just above flat calm... cor blimey can't wait for the real thing then!

Mid table of the fleet after the start soon turned into a narrow lead for us but many a slip between twixt, cup and lip before we get to the finish but a promising start. As previous bloggers have already alluded to, playing our joker has its own pressures but for which we are up for handling.

I think a lot of our competitors keep saying 'well Dale really knows this ocean' which is undoubtedly true but it’s not like driving up the A1 and knowing you're passing say Peterborough services or Ferrybridge Power station. The Southern Ocean, in my inexperienced opinion has a mind of its own.

Examples...

  • Rogue waves hitting broadside sending Sam and myself flying into the cockpit from the high side; Sir Robin, we were clipped on but that does not leave you immune from hitting the odd winch leaving you with the worst dead leg I can remember having. Ah well as my Gran used to say; 'Worse things happen at sea our Mike'.
  • Slaloming down some great surf for long periods, getting us up to our current top speed of 26 knots (sad face from me as I was on mother watch).
  • Now currently no wind on the midnight to four watch, but even though its pants for the race you should see the full moon and myriad of stars.
  • P.S. These “flat calm seas” have enabled me to further my studies in the art of hoying up. Although personally very lucky to be able to avoid the dreaded seasickness I can now say I'm an expert in the coughing, highly athletic projectile, the more controlled deep reach varieties. I'm expecting to receive my doctorate from Leeds University upon my return.

    Anyway, here's signing off from your Yorkshire Independence party correspondent somewhere in the Southern Ocean.

    Brought to you by Mick