Sanya is still in 2nd equal position on points, with Quindau in the lead. However, Sanya has still to play her joker, which could double her scoring points. Go Sanya!

They have been hard at work building Sanya yachts and sailing them in calmer waters. Well done both of you. A grand job. Rachel was very excited to see your handiwork.

Hallelujah!

😀Seumas has invited Rachel to join Sanya in the next 2 legs to Freemantle and Whitsundays and after discussion, Rachel has agreed to go. Seumas is supportive of Rachel’s contribution and considers her fit enough to do it.

Rachel thanks you all for your support through this rollercoaster. It has helped her enormously. She has limited access to wi fi in Cape Town, so I will keep in touch and pass messages on via Facebook and her blog. One way of communicating support is via Comments on Facebook. If you try via What’s Ap it may be some time before she responds.

Rachel has specialised in cockpit work, which involves managing the main sheet and traveller. She has also helmed and excels in moderate wind when sailing on a close reach. She achieved 10.8 knots in wind of only 14 knots. Quit special! She contributed to them winning 2 points in between 2 points during the leg.

She has requested a lower bunk for the next leg and to continue to be on the same watch as Su.

Rachel has great strength and courage in a crisis and shows great fortitude. We wish her well for the next 2 legs, less extreme conditions, healing for her wounds, more courage and safety!

Have talked to Rachel this am. She sounds more herself today. Meeting with Seumas is at 8.00 Utc today.

Her fall occurred at the navigation station down below about half way through the leg. She was thrown across the space into the Seumas bunk.

The “run in” with “big bad Buz” was in “death alley” down below on the way to the galley. They both fell with Buz landing on top of her. Must have been quite a heap! This happened after her earlier fall. Buz said “Oh no, not you again.”

Rachel has met some great folk, both on Sanya, and other boats. They have been very supportive and good company.

Hope to talk with her again after meeting. More news soon.

Rachel says “thank you” for all the messages of support that arrived in the package from Liz. Also for comments on her recent Facebook posting giving news of her fall and feelings.

Thank you.

Rachel says Bermuda skipper who is from Cape Town has said that he has crossed the South Atlantic 14 times and that the conditions on this race were by far the worst that he had experienced. It’s a shame that this occurred on Rachel’s first leg, which was supposed to be an easier introduction.

A bulk carrier has had one of it’s enormous steel cargo hatches washed overboard by a wave and a container ship has lost 23 containers by another wave.

The power of the ocean!

Perhaps the Southern Ocean won’t be that bad?

It also shows just how capable the Skipper Race yachts are in these conditions to have come through with so little boat damage. Crew not so fortunate!

I’m afraid there is some bad news from Cape Town. Rachel has had a fall on the boat and thought she might have damaged a cheek bone and 2 ribs. She has been to the hospital today and had a scan. The good news is that there are no broken bones, but there is damaged tissue. She also has a black eye.

Potentially more seriously, she has described this last leg as “utterly brutal”. She is frightened and is just not coping with the horrific conditions and is aware that the next leg is longer and could be worse.

She is having a session with Seumas tomorrow and will discuss options. A condition of going on will be to be moved from the top bunk and be on the same watch as Su.

One option is to miss the next leg to Freemantle and to rejoin for the leg to The Whitsundays on East Australia.

I have told her that we will support her in whatever she decides. She doesn’t have to go on and could fly straight home. She is there to enjoy the adventure and not be terrified.

I have emphasised that the most important thing is her mental and physical health.

She should be enormously proud of what she has already done and any decision she now makes would in no way undermine what we all think of her achievements and our love for her.

Please think of her and pray for the right decisions.

https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/race/standings

Looks like 5th place! Well done Sanya.

I will watch the live Facebook feed of the arrival.

I have switched on my mobile phone and will expect a call from Rachel sometime this morning. There is wifi on the pontoons, so What’s Ap should be available. We will see.

Rachel is very good at telling her story, and what a story it will be!

https://www.clipperroundtheworld.com/skipper-report/sanya/race3-day16-team46