There is less then 3.000 miles left to Cape Horn.

21 February 2008

All is fine on board “Trading Network Alye Parusa”, we are sailing East at 10-12 knots towards Cape Horn. There is less then 3.000 miles left to Horn – sounds like a Transatlantic distance and does not look as far-far away. For now, I would like to stay in the middle of the Antarctica Cup Race Track 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, but to continue due East towards Australia.

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 cock-pit.

All my gear is wet and I can only change one wet jacket to another which “dry out” for 2-3 hours on the hook in my cabin. It is wet on deck as it is wet inside. Condensation is everywhere. 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 have 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 when the storm passed, I am 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 of the refrigerator.

Alongside Antarctica Cup Race Track – storms can be violent and massive, but they come and go and can live with that, but never-ending cold is the major problem. I am single-handed sailor and allow using autopilot, but future entrant for AC fully – crewed boats will have to spend 24 hours on deck in similar conditions and I doubt that they will have heater or carbon hull is warmer then aluminum hull. Equipment and working gear should be very well planned and selected.      

Let’s hope we will safely reach Albany and I can present a list of my recommendation to the future participants in Antarctica Cup Ocean Race. Fighting the cold will be number 1 on my list.

Warm regards from freezing Southern Pacific – Fedor Konyukhov

Position: 52,48.26S , 158,58.59W
Speed: 9 knots, Course: 93 deg.

 

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