Thursday, February 21, 2008

Race Around Antarctica



21 Feb 08 0200 UTC. Sat Phone Sched with Fedor - Hoping for some sunshine!
“All is fine on board 'Trading Network Alye Parusa', we are sailing East at 10-12 knots towards Cape Horn. There is less than 3.000 miles left to the Horn – sounds like a Transatlantic race distance and does not look as far-far away. For now, I would like to stay in the middle of the Antarctica Cup Racetrack around 52-53 South. It is interesting to see how Cape Horn will meet us. It will be quite unusual not to round and go up (the South Atlantic), but to continue due East towards Australia and Albany.
I know it is full moon now, but we keep sailing in complete darkness. Several layers of clouds and constant rain-drizzle with frequent portions of snow make it is very unpleasant to work in the cockpit.
All my gear is wet and I can only change one wet weather jacket for another which “dry out” for 2-3 hours on the hook in my cabin. It is as wet inside as it is out on the deck. Condensation is everywhere. My sleeping bag feels like it was washed but has not been dried out. I have several sleeping bags and this helps a lot. I wish I had 10 of them. With the rolling seas we have now, I can even think to open the hatch on deck for ventilation. Here in the Southern Ocean you always fight something. Now that the storm has passed I’m fighting the cold. I have to put plastic bags onto my feet in order to keep them warm and not to lose body temperature. Obviously hat and gloves are on. Basically you are sailing inside a refrigerator. Full Report- http://www.antarcticacup.com/