It’s day six on our way to Cape Town. What a journey so far. I arrived in Punta del Este from home in New Zealand just a few hours before UNICEF arrived at the end of a gruelling Leg 1.
I am joining the crew for Legs 2, 3 and 4. Broadly speaking - sailing home. After a week of cleaning and maintenance on the boat, as well as enjoying the fabulous hospitality of our hosts in Punta, it was time for Race Start.
The enormity of realising a lifelong dream had really sunk in at the pre-race briefing. We are taking on the South Atlantic to sail from Punta del Este to the legendary Round the World Race stopover port of Cape Town. Let’s go.
Except, the wind had different plans. All week in Punta we had days of moderate/strong winds and sunshine. Race day dawned - cloudy and windless. The start time though did not change. Ten minutes before the start we were lining up for a downwind start and spinnaker hoist. One minute before the start the wind came in for an upwind start and then we were off. Mid fleet, we headed into the ocean and our urban home of the last week disappeared over the horizon.
The six days since have been an amazing contrast of weather conditions, sailing and emotion.
The crew has settled into the watch routine, battling various levels of sea sickness, colds, and bumps and bruises, as well as fatigue as we adjust to sleeping in two-to-three-hour blocks between our watches.
Watches have been busy: trimming, steering and all necessary sail changes as we chase the boats in front and try to put distance on those behind.
We have used all three Yankees, often several in one watch; put Reefs in and taken them out; enjoyed surfing along under Spinnaker at day and night.
Being guided by the moon and stars at night is an incredible experience. Last night it was the Southern Cross, which was special for me as I reflect on the fact family in NZ can also see that constellation. We have had wind holes; storms; whales; fog and clear days and nights.
One particularly memorable moment was a few nights ago. It was dark and foggy with 15-20 knot winds. Visibility was at about 100 metres. A headsail change was called for, so we headed up to the bow on the deck heeled at 30 degrees. We couldn’t see anything in the fog but all around us we could hear whale spouts. Pretty surreal.
Today, a wind hole has caught up with the fleet from the west. It’s hot and sunny which has provided some respite from the wet conditions of the last few days and has allowed us to dry the boat out and write a blog!! We have gambled that the more southerly route will help us escape the wind hole sooner than the boats to the north as well as setting us up for the preferred approach to Cape Town. Fingers crossed.