Sam Davies’ daily log - Countdown to Cape Horn
“Hello everyone,
I am counting down the miles to Cape Horn now!
I have had a ‘calm’ morning - less than 20 knots of wind. Sometimes it is harder work when there's less wind. As the wind dropped off this morning, and after gybing to get a better sea state, I had the usual wrestle with Genevive (my big gennaker) to get her out of her bag and up into use.
So I have had another lovely afternoons sailing, gliding down the huge Pacific swell. It really is amazing how so much of the front of Roxy flies clear of each wave as we take off on each surf! I tried to take a picture to show you. When Roxy is on a big surf like that, the bow wave comes out from the keel area (as the bow is clear of the water) and there is a big fountain of spay shooting out from the beam instead of the bow.
The wind increased and a few 30-knot squalls have passed over Roxy. I managed to get Genevive rolled back up and this time she folded obligingly into her bag, and I stacked her to windward.
In the last couple of hours I have had a big 45-knot squall, which was pretty impressive. It was twilight, with the huge full moon, and I could see it coming, so I was on deck, having taken the second reef, wondering if I should roll away the solent... it was a bit late! But in the end the 45 knots didn't last too long, so Roxy stayed under control, but I think I got a speeding ticket for that one.
The wind will build and stay squally and unstable for my run to Cape Horn, so the sailing is probably not going to be quite so ideal from now on, but there's not long to go now.
Sam x”
At 1500 UK time, Sam Davies aboard Roxy was in 4th position, 1,818 miles from race leader Michel Desjoyeaux aboard Foncia
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