Day 63 – Horn Rounded, Fresh Gal e

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Mon 14 Feb 2022 16:38
Noon Position: 49 17.6 S 052 01.1 W
Course: NE Speed: 6 knots
Wind: SW, F5 Sea: moderate
Swell: SW 4 meters
Weather: sunny, cool
Day’s Run: 146 nm

We had a breezy night with the wind gradually increasing to force 8, a fresh gale, and backing into the SW. By 0216 Sylph was down to staysail and a scrap of jib making good a course of 065 at six knots. At about that time we also crossed the 50th parallel back into the forties, so that means Sylph has now rounded the Horn. Hooray!
Since dawn I am pleased and relieved to say that the wind has moderated and we have gradually increased sail again and now are running wing-on-wing with one reef in the main and full jib poled out to starboard.
This forenoon I shifted some stores around to make them more accessible and to stow the waste packaging. With the sunshine, I also tried to air my pillow along with some hand towels but a small rogue wave decided to splash into the cockpit and once more my efforts to dry things out has backfired.
My plan from here is to continue to the NE to get into warmer latitudes and maybe gentler, preferably W’ly, breezes, at least away form these infernal N’lies if possible. And then continue east towards Cape of Good Hope.
Meanwhile, I have not been able to contact Coconut via HF radio since yesterday forenoon when Mark was entering Le Maire Strait, a potentially treacherous stretch of water, and the forecast was for 50 knot winds on the other side, so I have been a bit concerned. However, I have just heard from Wayne that Mark is okay. Apparently Coconut is a bit beaten up and that is all I know for now. Hopefully Mark will be able to repair any damage and continue on his way.
All is well.