I’m finally into the roaring forties with decent wind, which allows me to go quite fast – up to 24 knots – with the big gennaker up. Sometimes the boat is underwater, I have to be careful.
I’m seeing more and more birds, including my first albatrosses. It’s so great to be able to see them surf the waves. They’re just like Team Plastique, they use the power of the wind, they follow it ad they come and go.
I’m currently 200 miles south of the Tristan da Cunha Islands ad in the early morning tomorrow, I will sail past Gough Island if all goes well. It should be around 3AM, so I guess it will be another sleepless night for me.
As I’m writing this, my tea is brewing but I have to keep an eye on the sails and the settings often, when there’s a strong gust, just to make sure the boat doesn’t get out of control. I have to try to anticipate things ad listen to the noises coming from the boat, the waves and the hull.
The temperature has dropped significantly over the past two days, I’m now wearing my boots and oilskin pants and top to manoeuvre today. Every time a wave crashes against the bow, it’s like a water explosion on the deck and roof.
My last jybe was a few hours ago and I used that opportunity to check the fresh food on board. I still have a few tomatoes, lemons, two apples, shallots, onions, garlic and cheese. I think a few days from now, I can cook a good minestrone.
So everything’s great on board and I’m really happy to reach the forties on a boat that isn’t damaged. It’s now time for the Great South, low temperatures, gusts of wind and low pressure areas. It’s like dancing to a different music now and having to keep up with the beautiful rhythm of the great Southern Ocean.
Alessandro Di Benedetto/Team Plastique
40S21; 11W29
