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Sweating our pants off

October 20 2008

day 10

we are sweating our pants off, quite literately. It is so hot and humid in the Doldrums - (the trash bin of all winds of the earth; hence no wind at all). Many a helmsman is flying his “national flag” openly just to get some air to the lower regions. And sweating not just because of the intense heat but as much because of the lifting and moving of gear. In every little gust or squall our total gear of 1 tonnes sails and 1,5 tonnes of food, spares, tools and medicine is being moved to the optimal location onboard to get exactly the right stability on the boat for the wind. We are sweating to get every meter out of each gust of wind. The first one out of the Doldrums is most likely among the podium positions in Cape Town.

As we speak, or write there seems to be a low-pressure system developing in the South Atlantic, which could be the bus for a fast ride to Cape Town, once we have rounded the island of Isle De Fernando out of the Brazilian coast; probably in 2,5 days. The boats that spent more time getting there, which equals time in the Doldrums wont catch the bus, and could face a one week heavy wind upwind approach to Cape Town,(believe me, I have done that once), it is no joyride. Therefore everyone onboard is prepared to sweat their pants off.

So in a few days time we shall see how the bus schedule is shaping up.

Stay tuned. Stig onboard Kosatka