T-shirts and shorts in the Southern Ocean!

Jamaica Lightning Bolt - wet & wild off Cape Town!

Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 9:31 PM:

Position:
24degs 26'E
40degs 05'S - The Roaring Forties!!! My Dad craves to sail down here!

Noon - boat time!

The start was very, very hectic with lots going on! Hull and Humber and Cork are both out of the race and still in Cape Town under going extensive repairs after a collision on the start line. Apparently, Hull & Humber were on starboard but trying to give Cork room anyway, but Cork got caught by a gust and were headed up into the side of Hull & Humber. Cork we're clearly overpowered and one of the few boats without a reef in the mainsail. It seems that repairs will take up to two weeks and the boats might have to meet us in Singapore - a massive dissapointment for their crews, and an uncertain outlook for the skippers.

Unfortunately, soon after the excitment on the start I was sent to bed by my watch leader Mike because the wallowing under the Cape Town 'shadow' was making me ill - probably with a mix of nerves and anxiety as well! During the night the winds picked up and it was almost impossible to sleep as every wave felt like the whole boat was lifting out of the water and then slamming back down into the next wave, after leaving you behind to be re-united with your bunk as the boat rose on the next wave! Not enjoyable! Needless to say I was out of the watch system during the night.

I made it back on deck for our next watch at noon yesterday but it was too soon and I was sent back to bed after lunch repeated again. I had the whole night in bed again last night but I'm feeling much more refreshed and looking forward to some lunch especially as the only things staying down since the start have been mini-chedders and choclate buttons!

As I write various members of the off watch keep appearing to shed layers as the sun keeps shining and the relatively calm weather continues - a bit of a rarity in the southern ocean, especially as we are now well into the Roaring Forties!

Congratulations to my big sister, Hannah, who has just had a baby boy, Maurice John! I'm so excited for you and can't wait to see him! I expect him to be walking, talking, and tap dancing by the time I get back!

Almost time for lunch now and then I'l be back on the watch system so going to get one last nap in before getting seriously down to business!

Look out for more posts and pics in the coming days! x