Skippers log #1
34 25S 17 58E @ 20:00 GMT
We are becalmed off Cape Point, just south of Cape Town. It has been a hectic stopover. One of the highlights was securing a new sponsor, Netcare, the largest hospital group in South Africa. We ended up using its services twice, once when my shore crew got badly cut and the second when Minoru Saito lost feelings in his fingers. During the stopover, Netcare flew me to Port Elizabeth to speak in their hospital, and two orphanages. I have visited all their Cape hospitals. Gwen and I stayed with my sister and it was fun watching my only nephew grow each day. Les Phillips from Phillips Industrial Services arrived in Cape Town, as well as Toby and Ruth Smith. They have offered me tremendous support as my brother-in-law worked hard on the media relations and sponsorships with me and my sister on co-ordinating the schools and media calendar. Gwen worked on the boat and prepared the meals for this leg. Her job was the most important and I trusted her to get me ready for sea. Anderson winches came aboard as I replaced my coach roof winches. Already I feel the improvement of handling halyards. Manex and Power marine, the Anderson dealers, worked closely with me in getting materials and parts. They have supported me in various ways for now over 8 years. We met many incredible people who supported us in one way or the other. Wabasto fitted one of their heaters, so going south will not be so cold. The repairs were all completed, but we had no time for rest. We had planned to go horse riding, lying on the beach, visiting the winelands, but all Gwen and I got to do was one trip up Table Mountain. I met up with many old friends and enjoyed the hectic and pressured stop-over. The low point of the stop over was a racial slur directed at me. Royal Cape Yacht Club, where I learnt to sail and who now has a fantastic youth sailing program, handled the incident with speed and professionalism. I took my hat off to them for addressing the issue instantly, expelling the member. Today's highlight was that my mom got to fire the starting signal. I tried to oblige her by being first over the line, but Fila beat me with more power. I trailed the fleet out of Table Bay, remembering what it was like being a boy and dreaming of doing this race. I felt sad to leave, but yet I was ready to get back to the high seas again. I have left more tired than when I arrived.
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Skippers log #2
35 30s 20 55e at 19:00 GMT
It has been a wild day encountering my first gale. The winds blew at around 30 to 40 knots. The seas were big, especially when I passed beneath Cape Agulus. Green water has a habit of breaking over the stern, as at times we surface up to 14 knots. I strung a chain onto a line and for several hours dragged it behind the boat, one to slow us down a bit, two to try and slow down the swerving the stern (back of boat) is doing. This chain unfortunately got caught around the paddle of the selfsteering system and bent the safety tube. The boat went out of control. Thankfully it was during the daylight. I took the mainsail down to get better control of the boat with the electronic autopilot. One of the changes we made in Cape Town was we put two foresails on the roller furler. I was able to open the two sails like a butterflies wings and catch the wind. All the forces are now pulling the boat. I do not have much sail up front, but we are stil doing between 6 and 8 knots, occasionally surfing up to 10 knots. I hang over the stern to remove the paddle and replace the bent tube. This took about two hours. I have finally begun to settle down, but have not yet cooked a meal. I miss Gwen, and my sister with my nephew. It is amazing how a one year old child grows on one so quickly. I am glad I made it home in time for his 1st birthday. Many people sent me books and tapes. Thank you. I have enough reading material for the leg. I am planning to turn on the heater tonight for a while. A veggie shop gave me all my fruit and veggies, which are in the forward compartment and will remain cool as I heat the main cabin. I tried to hang the Christmas gift one of the schools gave me, but it won't stay. During the stop over I worked with about 2,000 young people from all walks of life. We presented the two mayors of the region with proclamations and gifts from Charleston. Sadly I did not get to meet with President Mandela. I am really disappointed as during the time we were trying to get with him, he did meet with Tiger Woods.
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Skippers log #3
36 25s 23 27w at 15:45 GMT
. This morning the gale became more intense, gusting up to 45 knots with very big seas the size of two story houses. With the twin forsails like a butterflies wings, we flittered at great speeds down the steep faces of the waves, steered by the windvane. I was up at sunrize to look at the weather conditions, returning to my bunk. An hour later I had a rude awakening. WE suffered a knock down to portside. Not only did I get flung out of my bunk, ten feet, but my bunk was torn off its supports leaving screw holes in the water ballast tank. I landed across the nav station and galley. In my flight, I tore the radar screen off its mounting. My feet smashed into the switch panel, breaking switches and the ammeter casing. My head was across the unlit burner and the contents of lockers were emptied onto the floor. In the forward cabin my fruit was strewn across the cabin floor. I picked myself up, and was unhurt except for a few bruises, and spent the next hour restowing items.
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Skippers log #4
36 46s 26 34e @ 16:00 GMT
I have finally gotten things sorted out from yesterday's knockdown. This morning I filled the holes in the starboard ballast tank where the bunk had pulled out, and in a few more hours the tank will be usable again. Shortly after dawn I hoisted the mainsail with two reefs in it. I have been incredibly tired, taking many deep naps. I fixed a curry that Gwen prepared for dinner and now waiting for sundown and back to bed. I really miss Gwen. My life feels so incomplete without her. She should have arrived by now back in Ireland, and in a few hours time I will call her. Twice yesterday I had to call just to hear her voice and talk for a moment. She is my strength, and being without her will take a few days to get used to. The birds are circling the boat, the weather has eased off and we are hard on the wind. It is cold, though the sun did shine today. I will turn my heater on later tonight again. It makes the boat feel cozy.
