Second session of heavy weather sailing for me since the start of the race (the first one being the nasty front in the first week of the race). The sea and wind started to build yesterday afternoon, gusting up to 35 knots and then back down to 20, difficult to know what sail area to have aloft, while wondering whether it's possible to physically furl some of these sails in 35+ knots. Although somewhat hairy at times, with some high-speed (for this boat) surfs, the boat stayed under the mast. Going fast is essential with that sea-state. During the night, the front started going through, leaving not a lot in it's wake for a while, but there was more to come. At dawn, the wind picked up to 38 knots as the end of the front passed overhead, delivering a full foam-up. Now condtions are abating, the barometer is rising, but there are still gusts to 30 knots, so in the interests of preservation, I will wait a little before getting too ambitious with other sails.
Campagne de France has just passed the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope! It's taken a while!!
Miranda/ Campagne de France
