Trade winds,and we are hooked solidly into them.The twin genoas getting
filled with up to 15 kts apparent wind and we are making best times on
this trip so far,maximum speed 13.8 kts surfing down a swell,averaging
7.4 kts for the last 18 hours.Our average since leaving Cape Town is
back at 6.6 kts giving us just under 160 nm per day.It seems that we
will set foot on St.Helena on Monday even though we are expecting the
wind to ease a bit as it already has done.This was our first fairly
intense run and both boat and crew held up well.Enough of the technical
stuff.
The energy on Synchronicity is steadily building and your comments and e
mails certainly adds to the equation.The awesomeness of this experience
which you are very much part of is slowly permeating our bodies,soul and
spirit and I certainly hope that you are enjoying it as much as we do.
I am very much looking forward to seeing some old friends on St.Helena
and introducing them to two new friends of mine,and although our visit
will be short one,we always pack in as much as we can when we are
there.They are probably expecting us as their are two boats ahead of us
who would have informed them of our imminent arrival,and I am sure they
are just as excited as us.It's been seven months since I've been there
and we will have a lot of catching up to do.
We have just crossed the Prime Meridian and our position is
19*01'S/000*06'W.Time is now 1 am here by us,3 am in SA.Temperature of
both water and air is 21*C and the barometer is at 1017 mb/hPa.In the
meantime I wish you a pleasant weekend,enjoy the rugby,we on board are all
blowing our foghorn for the Stormers as we do not have vuvuzelas on
board,brace yourself for the worldcup soccer and take care.
Paul
I have just arrived home from the yacht club where I assist with sail training of youngsters new to dinghy's,yes its the Super 14 final in about a hours time.The match is being played at the Orlando stadium in Soweto.The semi final was played there last week and after some initial reservations the Bulls fans had a ball.I have heard that Bulls supporters will again descend on the stadium in their Blou outfits, apparently they are also impressed with the price of beer at the local Taverns, not only the price but the novelty of drinking quarts straight out of the bottle.I would love to be a fly on the wall in those Taverns to see the interaction between the local's and the blou suporters en all.Its cold here and I have been asked to crew on a GP 14 in the winter series,still making up my mind.
ReplyDeleteFor the first time I can see some excitement about the world cup. Many people have dolled up their cars with flags or side window covers,and its not only the RSA flag on some cars, but the flag of the country they support. Gareth's golf has a RSA flag thanks to his mom,I refuse to have any decoration on my new car which is only a couple of weeks old.
St Helena,this an island that I always wanted to visit.Napoleon must have felt extremley isolated being surrounded by the Ocean, but I suppose that was the idea. Is there not a similarity to Robben island where Mandela and fellow Rivonia trialist were incacerated.Being a history buff I would love to trace his steps.
Think you guy's are making good time and I wonder who is going to spot the island first as it rises out of the sea.Thank you for updating the blog regularly it does allow us to be "Armchairsailors".Gareth I have purchased a ne phone which has MMS so lets have some pics
I wish you guy's fair winds and some exciting sailing - what a life, its just not fair
Die Bloubul weet nie van verloor af nie-sing ek heerlik saam. Sorry but the Stormers did not make it. Not even with the old Bull Habana's help (think he found out that he did not make the Bulls but the Bulls made him). Glad to hear all is well and St Helena nearly in sight. Love Marita
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