Another Heading For South America or, The Hard Way Round

[profoundly_disturbed]

This just in from Robin M. From somewhere very, very wet.



Hello Chris,

The Cape2Rio Race is well underway. I am the navigator aboard Perie Banou II skippered by Jon Sanders. What a hell of a start! I have just found out about some if the mayhem. Included was a Mayday and two Pan events. One boat abandoned. Pity about the lousy weather briefing which did not even consider the fleet would be hit by a massive gale on the first night out. A South African war ship and others have apparently been busy rescuing sailors...

If you go to the Royal Cape Yacht Club site and this event, or to the South African papers, I am sure you will find more that I have access to out here.

Anyway...

This is my first chance to test out the Iridium email we have aboard. Could you please distribute, as appropriate, to our motorcycling friends.

It has been full-on since our first night out from Cape Town. We got hit by a gale on that night. No chance to get our "sea legs". Very quickly the seas became wild with steep swells from three directions. It was quite frightening. We got hit by a number of huge breaking waves that had the potential to roll us. I was on the wheel when the winds really picked up, +40 knots, so had Jon further shorten the main sail and furl jib to a handkerchief. He had just finished that and was resting in the cockpit on the port side when a massive wave reared up and broke over the port side - enveloped the entire boat. I just had time to yell at Jon to hang on when we were hit. The wave smashed over Jon and me and filled the cockpit. The water set off Jon's life jacket. You should have seen the stunned look on his face. Can't imagine the look on mine...

We have battled the affects of the gale for three days. What has made it very difficult is that there have been three large and conflicting wave sets. Over and above the normal white caps and rollers there would be what looked like explosions of water high into the air. As you gazed around the turbulence there would be these random explosions of water high above the other turmoil - the intersection of three breaking wave sets. On occasion these occurred close to the boat.
The rollers were so large that in the troughs the wind would be well down but then as we crested the boat would be smacked down. The effect was so strong we had to shorten sail to accommodate the wind force on the crests.
The confused sea has seen Gareth and me quite sick. The boat has been randomly rolling around its three axes like crazy. Today is the first time I have eaten in three days - two cans if South African sardines. Fitting. The meagre food I tried to put down earlier has almost immediately exited. Gareth has been the same... Both of us are relatively ok on deck and in the bunk but only have seconds in the cabin before nausea sets in... Jon and Lance have been ok.

The seas are subsiding now and the crazy motion of the boat reduced. Hopefully this augers well for Gareth and me.
PBII has performed well. No major dramas on that front. We have however been careless on allowing a sheet and brace to abrade and break. Also, somehow on setting a spinnaker I managed to not properly set the snap shackle and some time into a downwind run the shackle let go. This put the kite into the water so we had a prawning run. No prawns. However, this morning we did have a squid on board.
Speaking of wild life two species of albatross and a sooty shearwater have been constant company. The albatross is a most magnificent bird and commands the air above the waves - even at the height of the gale.
On that first night of the gale we had a lot if water pour into the boat. Yep, bunks and all WET. Stuff is slowly drying out now but you can imagine the living conditions below deck!

Right now we are holding a course to the WNW and trying to lift north into the trade winds. The kite is up but I expect we have a way to go to get into the trades. It is very important we go sufficiently north to avoid the mid-Atlantic high. I am looking forward to some sunshine and warmth to dry out the bedding etc. A scrub-down with a few buckets of sea water will also be appreciated.
Rio de Janeiro is a bloody long way away across the Atlantic. Just now getting a real appreciation of what is required to cross an ocean... No doubt Jon is well and truly aware, this being his ninth circumnavigation of the planet!

All in good spirits aboard PBII.

We heard via HF radio yesterday from race headquarters that the gale the fleet encountered resulted in a number of retirements, including a dismasting and one abandonment of boat. Quite a hectic start to such a long race!

Provided Gareth and I and the equipment can hold up we will try to submit email reports on a regular basis. Due to the slow Iridium link these will not include photos.
Should anyone wish to contact us they can do so by sending short and simple text without photos or tables etc to this Iridium email. (NOTE: I've posted this in the members section under "Navigator")

Over and out for now...

Robin

PS: Could you please have Broadway Pizza send a selection of their premium pizzas to the boat ASAP. And one long black and three flat white coffees from Catelano's...
Current location:
29 deg 59 sec S / 011 deg 58 sec E

Thank you.

[Davey_sprockeT]

Nice update Chris.

Sounds like he's having a real adventure.. (lucky sod)...

[_Wilks]

Pure madness Robin.

Sounds like you have the sea bug (in both ways). I have a good home lined up for your HP2. Let's talk.

[Cookie]

Great report Robin

You lucky bugger, whilst I love sailing there is no way I would last out there - your success thus far is a testament to the skills of the team on board.

Keep up the good work and we look forward to your safe return.

[RobBD]

Amazing !

[Yamseng]

Wow, there is some serious adventurers and crazies in this club! Just met Koos today and he has got me all fired up about S America and now this. Robin, let me buy you a feet or two when you get back. I am a newbie in sailing and have just got back from one month of sailing from Penang to Phuket and back. This is my third year on my 35 foot sloop Sade. Not in the same league as PB11 or the kind of seas you have so far encountered but still pretty exciting. May the worse be behind you all and a safe trip to Rio. Good luck, Ed.