Blogs

The passage around the Horn was a bit full-on. The goal was to get to see the Horn, but there was 35-40 knots of breeze with 45 knot squalls and, above all, little visibility. It was night time… Conditions were lively but it was pleasant... It’s rather like a deliverance as it signifies leaving the Southern Ocean and the permanent oppression of the wind! It’s not so much the sea which is difficult

Hello everyone! I hope it's not too hard getting back to work after the Christmas holidays! Today is a quiet day on board Roxy as we are flirting with another ridge of high pressure that is located around the next ice gate. Our new occupation seems to be to find all the parts of the Pacific with light wind - there is another one right here!

First a bit of an introduction is in order I think.  Congratulations Yacht Pals team on your birthday and a well thought out and well developed site.   The membership of Yacht Pals is very international and may benefit from some of my articles about buying a boat in the United States. 

I welcome any questions or comments on anything I post here.  If there is something that I have not covered please let me know.  Hopefully you will find this information useful.  And Happy New Year! David 

Another milestone passed today as I crossed to the north of Gate number 9. That leaves just one more gate and Cape Horn left down here then Aviva and I can hand brake turn left and head north. I also broke through the 10000 miles to go barrier which is a nice incentive.

Yesterday I passed a special mark in my personal voyage around the globe. Eleven years ago, Royal and SunAlliance was dismasted at 52S 129W during our Trophee Jules Verne record attempt.

Last night, on the other gybe, heading ESE, trying to get far enough to gybe and head at a good angle to the New Zealand ice gate, we got to 52/30S, and were going farther. In that situation, one is always hoping for a small windshift to legitimize a gybe, so we could get out of there. It's too far south, too cold, too risky, etc.