Ericsson 3 Leg Five Day 31

Another day in the Ericsson 3 office. Not an average day, but one of maybe 30 in this race where we sail on the borderline of what boat and crew can  take. We are hanging on the back of the powerful low pressure system that moves with us towards Cape Horn. The weather forecasts do not describe the situation particularly well; the latest satellite picture show that we are much closer to the centre of the low than anticipated.

There are actually two centres, and we are almost between them - maybe only 50 miles from the headwinds on the other side. But I think the system will move away fast enough for us to stay in the favourable breeze behind the low.

As I am writing this, the wind speed average over the past hour has been 38 knots. 46-50 in the gusts, and they are frequent. Just before I got up from my bunk I noticed 56 on the instrument by the nav station. The sea was almost blown flat, it felt nice down below. I think this is a record wind speed for Ericsson 3 so far. We have throttled back completely, furled the headsail and are sailing with a bottom-reefed main only. Reaching along making 18-20 knots. We will hoist a small staysail when the breeze and sea state settles down a bit.

After a period of terrifying conditions like this, the guys on deck become very conservative for a long time. So I sometimes take the role of ‘pusher’, saying that it is time for more sail area. A bit before it actually is, so that we can be ready when the time comes. It is not the most popular thing to do at these moments.

Every hour, the main sheet trimmer comes down next to the nav station to rub some heat back into their hands again. Most of us have brought two pairs of gloves. One you can actually do stuff with on deck, and one warm. None of which goes well with the computer keyboard, but that is a small problem. I just found my HH hat in a pit of water in the bilge.

The boat's movements are violent, and one can feel how she twists in every wind gust or when landing after launching off a wave. It makes it hard to sleep. Most guys keep a nervous eye at the wind speed on the instruments down below while feeling and judging the impact of every wave. Dozing off every now and then. But it is much more comfortable than in the six degrees water on deck. The bunk and sleeping bag becomes one's ‘home’, the only private hiding spot onboard. Nothing is more disappointing than discovering that one's sleeping bag is wet. Then the off watch becomes a drying project instead. It has happened a few times to most of us during this leg.

The radar is searching for ice, but in these conditions the whole screen is covered in rain and swells. We have also kept a look out for the Portimao Global Ocean Race Class 40 boats that we just passed. I am sure it would be disappointing for one of the shorthanded sailors to be woken up by a VO70 surfing into their cabin.

Some 24 hours left now to a big moment for us sailors, the rounding of Cape Horn.

Aksel Magdahl – Navigator