“Wind is shifted to south and picked up to up to 10 knots. It is better then 00-05 knots we had last day. The Ocean has moderate swell and no waves. Grey sky, some times drizzle. I am sailing under full main and solent. It is getting cold here and I already got into my polar gear – a goose down jacket from Russian company BASK. I used this jacket in Greenland during dog sled crossing last Spring. We crossed Greenland from East to West alongside Polar Circle with my friend Inuit – Hans at record time of 15 days. This jacket smells dogs, snow and Arctic. It brought some good memories to me today.
First time from start I had approached galley and fried potato on pan. This is my favourite meal on board. My shore team knows that if I managed to fry potatoes (chips) – the weather is good and ocean is smooth. In all other conditions – it is not possible to spend much time by the galley.
Have not seen any ships, but last night heard plenty of Japanese talks over the VHF radio on 16 ch. I had to use radar (installed 24 hours before the start) but could not see any vessels within 16 n/miles range. VHF antenna fixed on 110 ft mast, so I can pick up ship communication that somewhere over horizon. These fishermen are big concern for me. Jon Sanders told me a story how he run into the Korean trawler in the night near FalklandsIslands. He was a sleep; the boat sailed on the pilot and he hit a trawler, damaged a pull-pit and forward stay. It the Southern Ocean nowadays there are more and more ships and you have to look out constantly. Although my yacht is equip with Active Echo Radar Detector (an electronic device that sends loud alarm in the cabin once it picked up other radar within 5 n/miles), but some times trawlers do not use radar here in the Southern Ocean.
Today we are entering Roaring Forties and will keep diving south towards the Race Track.
Fedor”
Comments from Bob Williams CEO of Antarctica Cup:
“As Fedor now sails below 40s he will be saying farewell to warm atmosphere until he heads Alye Parusa towards Albany in 60-65 days time. What effect will the constant cold have on Fedor? No racing yachtsman can tell because no racing yachtsman has been below 45s for 60-65 days”.
Forecast from Lee Bruce (Tactical Weather USA)
“A centre of high pressure will move nearly overhead of Fedor on the 30th of January, so his wind will be light and variable again for a period. But the high will be moving quickly, and the wind fills in nicely behind it.
Thru 30/12Z: S to SSW 8-13kt
30/12: Bcmg light/vrbl
30/18: NNW 5-10
31/00: NW 20-25 (gust 35, esp in squalls)
31/06: WNW 30 gust 40; squalls
31/12: W 15-20
31/18: WSW 20
01:12: SW 15-20