Financial Crisis Moves South- The Southern Ocean

A tough start for leg 2 of the Global Ocean Race

We’re at sea admiring a beautiful sunset and in the distance we can just
make Cape Good Hope that we are leaving behind us, this will most likely
be the last piece of land we’ll see till we arrive in New Zealand.

My mood the day of the start was far than relaxed. I was apprehensive and
my mouth was dry, we are venturing towards the mysterious Southern
Ocean… The first night was tough, after a light patch of wind west of
Cape Town in the lee of Table Mountain the dreaded South Easter was
blowing 25-30 knots right on our noses and beating into the horrible seas
was many degrees of separations away from the word pleasant. My confidence
was knocked hard when I heard Sec Hayai had dismasted, only a few months
the same happened to me at the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race, so all my
thoughts went to Nico and Frans and i hope they can deal with what surely
is a great disappointment.

Luckily today we had a spell of light winds and sunshine to breathe and
mentally restart in a better and more relaxed mood, away from rocks,
fishing boats and other dangers.

I am lucky I found in Hugo Ramon an excellent partner for this race, the
communication between us is very good, we did an excellent start and were
leading in the very early part of the race, later the offshore option
taken by BSL, Campagne de France and Cessna paid off so we dropped behind
them but the way to Wellington is still very very long indeed.

Posted by: firstclass