LAT 37 31.4S
LONG 024 39.9E
DTR 4390
ETA 0600 28 October
SKIPPERS BLOG
Goldcoast Australia has had a very nice run over the past 24 hours
experiencing the warmth of the Agulhas Current mixing with gusty but fresh
south easterly winds.
Whilst the Auglhas Current has been hindering our progress towards the
east for the past few days it has been making living down below very
pleasant with the internal central heating that is controlled by the water
surrounding the hull remaining a very constant 24.5 degrees. This sea
temperature increase became very evident as soon as we rounded Cape
Agulhas. Unfortunately as we make our way south to the southern ocean
this temperature is expected to drop below 14 degrees so we are making the
most of the warm climate now.
The presence of friendly seabirds has been keeping us very entertained.
Yesterday a very large and inquisitive brown gull came and flew next to
the radar post. I stood on the starboard quarter and held out a biscut
trying to coax the bird to take the food from my hand or land on my arm
however it was more interested in the crew and what we were doing sailing
through its territory and hoping we had some fish to give it. We have
also seen some very graceful display of beautiful albatross flying as they
cruise effortlessly above the waves making our boats movements seem like a
circus ride.
Crew are now settled in now and everybody has brushed out the cobwebs of
shore life and are now getting involved in all the evolutions of reefing
and sail changing as we sail through a range of varied conditions working
our way to windward towards the east. Hopefully over the next few days we
will be in the westerly winds of the southern ocean and sailing to
windward will be a thing of the past and running and surfing will become
the norm. BT