Summary
The weather over the weekend may have been frustrating at times for Dee, but in an email to the Shore Team today she reported:
“I think Aviva can see water on the other side of the Cape. A few weeks ago, I was struggling to see an end and thought I would be battling against the elements forever, but today I firmly believe we are going to do this.”
When the Cape of Good Hope appeared on her chart on Friday night, Dee described it as a “massive boost to my morale.” She is clearly in determined mood, but the Shore Team reindexs cautious. Logistics Director Alistair Hackett said:
“Dee’s still got 1,995 miles to go to the Cape of Good Hope – the equivalent of a transatlantic crossing. She’s still in the Southern Ocean, still in the Roaring Forties and she’s still got to get round one of the worst Capes in the world. There is still a lot that can be thrown at us, but we’re making good progress and Dee’s doing incredibly well.”
The rise in water and sea temperatures is an immediately tangible sign that Dee is entering the final phase of the Southern Ocean. The sea temperature is up to 15 degrees and this afternoon Dee is heading west at a latitude of 41 degrees and was making an average speed of 7.9 knots.
“Everything feels warmer and she says she is back into proper sailing mode rather than setting a sail configuration and hanging on,” added Alistair.
Dee has described this as the ability to “live rather than survive” and on Saturday also welcomed a change in the nature of her communications with weather forecaster, Mike Broughton, who “stopped being the bearer of bad news and has delivered weather with less than 30 knots of wind in it.”
The discovery of rice krispies on Saturday “vastly improved” Dee’s day and is a sure sign that conditions are allowing her to appreciate the process of living, rather than fighting to perform basic functions and stay safe. “This is a complete change to my staple porridge and a few other options that I have for breakfast in my ten-day packs, so it was very exciting,” said Dee.
Although the overall picture is definitely positive aboard Aviva today, the weekend still presented its own challenges. It rained for most of Saturday and changeable wind prompted frequent and frustrating adjustments to the index sail.
After fast progress for two days, a lull caused by high pressure caused Aviva to stall slightly on Sunday, but also provided an opportunity for some indextenance work. Dee changed the injectors and fuel filter on the generator, checked the steering cables and managed to wash some clothes and herself, which made her feel “like new woman!”
Now though, she is itching to get going again and will not have to wait long for high winds to return. The latest forecast from Mike Broughton predicts winds of over 45 knots from the north-northwest tonight ahead of a cold front, but they will not last long.
“The strong winds that are coming with this weather system will not last past 24 hours,” according to Dee, “once again an indication that we are making our way to the slip road for the junction to exit the Southern Ocean.”
Quick Links
“I firmly believe we are going to do this” – Read the Shore Team commentary about Dee’s determined email
http://www.avivachallenge.com/index.asp?pageid=53
Read Dee’s latest diary entry:
http://www.avivachallenge.com/index.asp?pageid=6
Send Dee a message of support:
http://www.avivachallenge.com/index.asp?pageid=10
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