Race 4 - Day 6
Crew Diary - Race 4 Day 6
24 November

It is hard to believe that we have put in almost 1,100 miles since we said goodbye to Cape Town after a fantastic stopover. On our journey so far, we have been visited by a few dolphins and whales and scores of sea birds as we continue to make our way south-east.

There has been a wide variety of conditions in the first week, but we are now firmly in the Roaring Forties and they are delivering as promised! The wind over the last few days has been consistently 30+ knots with gusts as high as 48! Last night was particularly cloudy, so we had close to no visibility on the overnight watch. Of course, we have loads of instruments on board, but mostly we are steering by just feeling the boat through the darkness and waves, which occasionally break over the deck and swamp the crew. It takes constant focus and quite a bit of strength at times, but the thrill of surfing down the waves is incredible. Our team boat speed record is now up to 24.5 knots! As I came off the helm just after midnight, the sky started to clear and when the stars appeared, I was able to see the Southern Cross for the first time ever. As we race on through one of the most remote parts of the planet this Thanksgiving morning, I am thankful for my amazing family and their endless support during this epic adventure of a lifetime. Happy Thanksgiving from the Southern Indian Ocean!