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logbooks of the week
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2004-2-5
Hi there,
The front that went over yesterday was pretty tough with a steady force 7. The Indian...
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2004-2-4
Hi there,
I am to the south of South Africa! In fact, I crossed the meridian of the Eastern part...
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2004-2-3
Hi there,
Yesterday evening, the wind abated and came around to the SE, which allowed me to give...
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2004-2-2
Hi there,
The lead over Philippe Monnet is starting to widen again, and that is something that re...
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2004-2-1
Hi there,
Well, I’ve done it! I’ve gone beyond 20 days lead after being stuck at 18 for a long ...
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2004-1-30
Hi there,
Lots of people have been asking me whether I ever get bored.... so here’s an example o...
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Logbook of 2004-2-5 |
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Hi there,
The front that went over yesterday was pretty tough with a steady force 7. The Indian Ocean definitely wanted to give me a good sending off!
Adrien got through it well with the solent and the mainsail with two reefs, as usual. On the other hand, since sunrise, I’ve been becalmed with some winds that have been very variable in direction and strength. I hope that will sort itself out quickly, as besides that, yesterday’s wind left behind it an enormous sou’westerly swell, which doesn’t help our progress nor the state of my mainsail.
That hasn’t stopped us eating away bit by bit at Philippe Monnet’s time. I should remind you that he left from Brest in early January hoping to go far down south and pick up some favourable winds close to the Antarctic. He was stopped by the ice, which meant that he found himself off the Cape of Good Hope in early May, which is far from being the ideal period. He reached there the same time as a deep depression, which really slowed him down and forced him to shelter off Port Elisabeth for 25 hours. So tonight as I pass by this port I’ll get another 25 hours added to my lead, while I’m asleep!
I mean, being half-asleep, as with the oilrigs, the cargo ships, fishermen and whales, I have to keep one eye open!
See you tomorrow,
JL VDH
A day with the cuddly toy that’s yellow all over from Celerant Consulting.
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Logbook of 2004-2-4 |
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Hi there,
I am to the south of South Africa! In fact, I crossed the meridian of the Eastern part of this vast country. I’m still making fine headway, even if I have had the wind head on now for twelve hours or so. Behind the weak front that I’ve just crossed, the wind should become favourable.
This morning, in some brilliant sunshine in cloudless, blue skies there is a nice little wind from the NNW, enabling me to sail towards the Cape of Good Hope beating at 12 knots. The sea is deep blue just like in the areas , where the trade winds blow...in short, perfect sailing conditions. Philippe Monnet said he had 10 days of good fortune and 141 days of hard slog. I’d be inclined to say I have had the exact opposite!
It’s true that the Indian Ocean offered much better conditions than I have ever experienced before. But the Roaring Forties in the Pacific, right up to the south of Australia, lived up to their reputation. My luckiest moment was rounding the Horn in 24 hours with a favourable 40-knot wind. That was something that was really exceptional. As you can see, good fortune and perseverance go well together!
See you tomorrow,
JL VDH
A day with the cuddly toy from the Forme et Signe company, put on board Adrien by Idée d’image.
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Logbook of 2004-2-3 |
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Hi there,
Yesterday evening, the wind abated and came around to the SE, which allowed me to give my Pechiney Marine lightweight spinny a whirl, as I hadn’t used it by night before. Especially, as with the spinnaker up, in order to keep an eye on it, I stay outside to sleep just underneath it, with the staysail as a mattress. I don’t need to point out that in the forties or even worse in the fifties there’s no way I can sleep out there.
The advantage of being in that position is that if there is the slightest flapping of the 450 sq.m, I am immediately woken and ready to intervene. I really care about my two spinnakers, because when I head up the Southern Atlantic, they are going to be very useful. Much more than they were way down in the south, where I rarely sailed downwind, especially with the light breeze, which is required for the spinny.
I now have exactly 21 days lead (3 weeks) over Philippe Monnet, who after 109 days was at 31°05’S / 37°40’E, 1003 miles from the Cape of Good Hope. Besides that, as he was so far north at that point, my distance to the Cape is that much shorter. I don’t need to stress that all that cheers me up no end, and I’m feeling as the bright as the weather!
See you tomorrow,
JL VDH
PS. I’m going to take advantage of this log to offer my heartfelt congratulations to Francis Joyon for his magnificent performance!
A day with Anne GLADEL’s cuddly toy, a pretty miniature doll, Nanou, luckily wearing a straw hat, as the sun is out today!
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Logbook of 2004-2-2 |
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Hi there,
The lead over Philippe Monnet is starting to widen again, and that is something that really cheers me up! Of course, today I slowed down a little as the front went over and I sailed for quite a while upwind. There’s no way I’m going to cover 300 miles everyday in this direction! But I’m nibbling away a little everyday, and it’s not over yet, because my predecessor’s progress wasn’t that brilliant this week.
This morning, I discovered a nice little squid on the deck. Of course, it wasn’t a giant squid, but it did measure around 6 inches or so, which was big enough to put it in the saucepan to accompany a seafood risotto. I’m sometimes asked whether I fish. No, not down here, but when I pick up the southeasterly trade winds, I’ll certainly be getting out my equipment to try to catch a big sea bream.
Yesterday evening, I took advantage of a magnificent sunset. The rays went right down to the sea through the clouds, and it was like looking at the religious pictures from my youth, which symbolised a divine apparition. It was very beautiful!
See you tomorrow,
JL VDH
A day with KINEDO’s cuddly toy put on board Adrien by Idée d’image.
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Logbook of 2004-2-1 |
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Hi there,
Well, I’ve done it! I’ve gone beyond 20 days lead after being stuck at 18 for a long time. I must point out that I’ve had two very good days, yesterday with 306 miles and today with 301 miles. I had a good 20 to 25 knot wind, which allowed me to achieve these good scores without pushing too hard. Moreover, the weather forecast for the next few days seems to be fairly fine and I can see the Cape at the end of the tunnel!
Yesterday evening, the detector alarm was triggered to warn me about the presence of a radar in the area. It is always turned on, but I had forgotten about it. Apart from the birds, the whales and ....Francis Joyon I have had the feeling since Cape Horn that I’ve been completely alone in this deserted part of the world. Seeing the huge fishing boat with all its lights on brought me back down to earth, as there will also be cargo ships nearby and so the risk of a collision. Especially as I round the Cape of Good Hope, as quite a few boats go around there.
I’ve got some very fine memories of South Africa from my three stays there in 86, 90 and 94 during the BOC. I hope I will be able to see land, but don’t want to get too close to the beaches. There are already enough wrecks down there!
See you tomorrow,
JL VDH
A weekend with Samuel Lague’s cuddly toy, a pretty little stag.
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Logbook of 2004-1-30 |
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Hi there,
Lots of people have been asking me whether I ever get bored.... so here’s an example of how I’m taking it easy. Last night, at 2 o’clock local time, the wind abated and it was raining. The front wasn’t far off then. I still had the solent and one reef, so I had to be brave about it! I got out of my warm duvet, put on my Cotten waterproofs and my boots, then raised the mainsail once again. We went up from 8.5 to 10.5 knots. I took my clothes off and got back into my bed, which was still warm.
At half past three, the wind was still going down. I raised the genoese, once I’d gone through the ritual of putting on the old sea dog’s outfit. So there was nothing left to raise, but with the front, the west nor’ westerly wind was going to back sou’westerly. As I had to keep an eye out, and daybreak wasn’t far off, I decided to have my breakfast.
At 10 past 4, I took my mug of hot tea like everyday with some Petit Lu biscuits spread with jam. At 20 past 4, it was raining heavily. It was the front arriving and the wind was turning. I had to pick up the running backstay on the windward side, then come around helping the genoese go from one side to the other, as in light winds the solent roller stops it. I was off again at 8 knots on the other tack.
By five o’clock, the wind had come around towards the south, and I had to reset the pilot. Then, sheer joy! We start to take off again. The wind was getting up. By seven, the wind was coming from the SSE. What a pleasure to finish the night off going along at 12 knots!
See you on Sunday,
JL VDH
A day with the cuddly toy from the Ami Lenglart company, put on board Adrien by Idée d’image.
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