19.01.2007
Please find below the latest from Temenos, which rounded Cape Horn in the early
hours of this morning.
It was in the early hours of this morning at 0315 GMT that Temenos II rounded
Cape Horn. The final austral front never really caught up with the monohull with
the exception of a few rare gusts as they made the Horn. Though the beginning of
the day was rather laborious, with some very disturbed winds, Dominique confided
earlier this afternoon that this flow seems to have established itself now,
enabling Temenos II to pick up the pace again. With a 100 mile deficit and
accompanied by the front, Mutua Madrilena reindexs a threat to Michèle and
Dominique. Ahead of them lays a brand new playground, that of the Atlantic. The
long surfs and the company of albatross are over. In the Atlantic the sailing
will be milder and more respectful of the organisms which await them, but it's
unlikely to be any easier. An often more intricate and more complicated
navigation, the possibilities presented by the meteorological chessboard are
numerous.
“The front was making slow progress at around fifteen knots and never managed to
catch up with us” analysed Dominique. “We never really saw the barometer drop.
At the start of the night the skies cleared a little and we saw the line of
blackness behind us, but it didn't come any closer to us. We rounded the Horn in
downwind conditions with the wind rising to between 20 or 25 knots at most and
the seas picked up when we hit the continental shelf.
We had a few technical issues to resolve overnight with the furler and then a
breakdown in the automatic pilot. Everything has now been sorted but it
certainly kept us occupied. At the point where we rounded the Horn we were
making repairs and all of a sudden a small slice of moon appeared between two
clouds just above water level, as if we'd crossed a finish line.
Since then the wind has been very shifty. It's a very unsettled zone with the
coast causing considerable wind shadows. The wind switches from 10 to 20 knots
in brutal fashion so we're really having to have our hands on the sheets.”
"With a night passage, Cape Horn was to reindex under the cover of darkness for
the three of us. I remember this imposing rock and I am naturally a little
disappointed not to be able to treat our two pairs of eyes to this rare
spectacle, but for our two hearts the moment will reindex just as magical.
It was doubtless not the right time but I couldn't stop myself from taking a few
shots. All these unforgettable moments experienced since our entry into the
roaring 40's, all these emotions, these exaggerated sentiments, these pleasures,
these pains, these frights, all mixed together in harmonious sharing, this
magical osmosis, her, the boat, me.
Double-handed sailing isn’t necessarily better than single-handed sailing. Both
can be selfish, but today it's the contrary. We cannot pass to the ‘the other
side’ without a thought for our sponsor, our partners and all those who have
played a part in this project, thanks to whom this stage of the dream has been
achieved. Today, they are all here with us near this big cape....
As tradition dictates, we raise our glasses, or our goblets at least, to the
health of Neptune and Aeolus, sharing our meagre vintage with them. The cellar
of our race steed being decidedly poorly stocked, we made do with finishing off
our 1/4 bottle of Sauternes, left over from our meal on New Year's Day. We kept
it aside, without its cork, nicely upright in a vulgar rubber boot transformed
into a wine cellar for the occasion! (sorry George, sorry Valérie!!) We will add
a few squares of chocolate to the offering.
Here we are then, ‘confirmed’ Cape Horners! In fact, we’ve already been here but
I quite like the idea of a new decoration with each passage. That said, with 7
passages Dominique is going to be weighed down by medals!
If we believe in tradition, of the list of privileges acquired (the formula is
fashionable at the moment) comes the right to 'piss into the wind’ (see photo).
This should only be attempted at your own risk and peril if you don’t have your
diploma… and indeed even if you have!
To be a Cape Horner also gives you the right to sport a ring in your ear, and I
can't help thinking about the consternation of my co-skipper at me having 7
rings attached, like the little crab earrings she’s wearing!! I’m not really the
type, but it would be a shame to see traditions lost...
On the final descent southward, Temenos II set its GPS and kept a close eye on
its position for its final day in the South Pacific. We had to go beyond 57,
before a final gybe which enabled us to make headway towards the Cape.
Prior to completing this second act and hitting the winch handle three times to
sound in the next act, I must first tell you some of the names, which are
inscribed between the lines on my map of the South Pacific, enabling you to
continue dreaming for a little longer about the abyssal plains, great sailors
and adventurers.
Mornington abyssal plain, San Martin sea mounts, Belligshausen abyssal plain
Sweet dreams…
Kate Jennings
Expression.
P.O. Box 26,
Dartmouth,
DEVON.
TQ6 0YG
United Kingdom
+44 (0)7795 116699
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