Overnight the cold front that has been chasing us across the South Atlantic for the best part of the last week finally overtook us.
After several days of clear sunny skies, and relativity consistent warm northerly winds. The cold torrential rain is a bit of a shock to the system.
At times, we experienced winds of 45kts, this turns the rain in to tiny missiles that make any part of exposed skin feel like it’s being sand blasted.
We get the occasional thud; everyone takes a breath and braces for the inevitable wall of water that's about to land. Every so often you hear a scream as the water crashes down on an unsuspecting crew member.
Thanks to Simon Rowell the Fleet Meteorologist (weather guru). We had plenty of warning that the bad weather was coming, giving us time to make sure everything was stowed away, and the correct clothing was selected at the watch change overs.
Now it’s all calmed down again for a little while before the secondary low-pressure system (big whirlpool according to one of our supporters) that the front had spawned roles over the top of us maybe giving some nice downwind for a bit.
The crew have really settled in and adapted to life on board a Clipper Race yacht. Yesterday Fausto looked out the hatch and stated that he was almost pleased to be on galley duty as it looked so grim on deck! Now our focus turns to the Ocean Sprint and our attempt to be the quickest boat to sail across three degrees of longitude, hopefully picking us up some much-needed bonus points.