Day 1 update from the Global Ocean Race…

Just under 24 hours in and we are approaching the most southern point of Africa, Cape Agulhas. We sailed past the infamous Cape Horn in the early hours of this morning, but it was too far away to see.

We had a fantastic start, reaching in 20-knots of wind but, unfortunately this was short lived as after 20mins we sat in area of no wind for a few hours. The fleet split into two and fortunately our option of going offshore with BSL and Campagne de France has paid off and we are currently sitting all with in sight of each other heading southeast towards the edge of our first ice gate, expected in about six days. It was devastating to hear that the Dutch guys on Sec Hayai, who spen the last 3 days repairing their keel, we’re dismasted last night and we hope they can arrange something to get back on the race course.

We have six hours of relatively calm weather with shorts and t-shirt on deck but, by this evening we will have up to 25-knots upwind for about 36 hours.

We have been getting lots of sleep catching up while we can from the frantic few days before leaving. Being a borderline carnivore most of the time, it is going to take a little getting used to my new vegetarian skipper. Thankfully I have manged to smuggle a bit of Biltong onboard so insanity can be held off while that lasts.

All for now from Sam aboard Cessna Citation,

Sam