Author: ruleader.home.blog

Seumas report

Hello everyone,

So we’ve made it out to Table Bay past the Cape of Good Hope and were on our way down the western edge of the Agulhas. Us and Punta Del Este have been motoring through the night to get into some good and favourable winds before we do our Le Mans start this morning. A first night at sea is always trying for crew, new and old. People are tired, trying to get used to being in a watch system and most probably a little bit seasick but motoring through the first night helps I think allowing people are more relaxed entry into the watch system.

The weather for this start looks good, 15 knots of wind from the north west should propel us southward and into the first low pressure system were going to encounter.

Until tomorrow,

Seumas

Race restart

https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/news/article/race-4-start-update-visit-sanya-china-and-punta-del-este/

Sanya have slipped lines and Punta are close behind. They plan to motorsail through the night and have a race start tomorrow morning. Given the weather forecasts, there is a chance of being in Freemantle before the fleet set sail for Airlie Beach.

ETA is 20th to 22nd December. The planned departure is 22nd December, so it is all very tight.

Go Sanya. Go Punta. Go Rachel. Go both crews. Safe, fast and happy sailing.

Rachel report

Rachel is still in the flat tonight, but packing up tomorrow morning to board Sanya and do immigration with the rest of the crew. Departure will be sometime tomorrow once Punta is ready. Apparently, they have more to do.

No talk at this point of joining UNICEF.

Rachel visited Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held. All very poignant. An ex prisoner showed them round.

Rachel is on the watch that prepares dinner for 20 with 2 others. She is not very confident herself and is not at all sure how things will go.

This leg will be very cold and she may have to wear her dry suit with as many layers as possible underneath. She is pleased with the gloves that I send out. They are thermal and waterproof. Her face is still sore from her fall and getting the dry suit on may be difficult. Her ribs are still bruised too.

This may be the last contact until Christmas. I wished her safe sailing and assured her that we are all behind her.

Rachel thanks everyone for their support during this rollacoaster. She looks forward to being in touch again, albeit very briefly, on arrival in Freemantle, Australia, where there will be a very quick turnaround to depart for Airlie Beach. Rachel wishes you an early Happy Christmas and sends her love. ❤️🌲

UNICEF safe into Durban

https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/news/article/unicef-heading-to-durban-for-medevac/

After all the bad news it is heartwarming to see the level of support for UNICEF and the crew member requiring a medevac. Thank goodness he has made it back safely. A 2 hour turnaround to re fuel and re victual is amazing.

If the plan is for UNICEF to join Sanya and Punta on their way to Freemantle, the timing looks good. Fantastic.

If Sanya and Punta are ready for a Thursday departure as forecast, the team who have performed miracles to achieve this are to be congratulated.