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Sunday, January 18, 2009

sailing : Day 68 onboard Roxy in the Vendée Globe

Davies’ daily log - Changeable conditions leave a tricky sea-state

“Hello everyone!

Conditions are extremely changeable down here at the moment. As I write, there are just 4 knots of wind downwind, but only a few hours ago there were 40 knots upwind in the cold front! This has left a tricky sea-state. For most of the afternoon and evening I have had to slow Roxy down as she was flying off the waves that were coming in the wrong direction – very frustrating. Right now, the sea is still bad. To combat this, I have taken a reef in the main to prevent the sail from shaking the rig around too much as it "clack clacks" in the swell. It’s the first time I've reefed in 4 knots of wind! Hopefully this calm patch will only last a few hours and we will pick up some westerlies again in the morning. I'm not complaining at all as I know that Dee, Brian and Cali are enduring the worst storm of the race at Cape Horn. My thoughts go out to them at this difficult moment in the race, and I hope they find adequate shelter and don’t suffer any damage from the storm.

S x”

At 1100 UK time, Sam Davies aboard Roxy was in 4th position, 1,635 miles from race leader Michel Desjoyeaux aboard Foncia

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