29:25:1S 033:18:8E

 

1200 Wednesday 18th November 2015

 

Riding the Waves

Yesterday started in amazing style, the sea flattened and the wind was just aft of the beam, Bryony was on watch and determined to break the WD passage watch record for miles travelled. She recorded 32 miles in four hours – record broken!. I was pleased with the autopilots 30 miles on my watch as everyone settled done to sleep. Gradually the wind died and shifted to the west, on the nose. We spent the rest of the night motor sailing into big seas to maintain course. We are now in the middle of the Agulhas Current which is running at about 1.5 to 2 knots. WD is launching off the waves and slamming into the troughs, spray flying thirty to forty feet either side. Exhilarating it is, but on each watch we are soaked regularly and trying to sleep is an art. I have apparently learned this art and on two occasions Denis has come into my cabin to tell me something, allegedly I did answer him, but I can’t remember anything. I am sure my family will be amazed, I used to be such a light sleeper.

 

Durban Tomorrow

We should make Durban Marina sometime tomorrow morning if the wind continues. The weather forecast says the wind should go around to the East again, so we should be flying again soon.

 

Miles travelled in the last 24 hours: 146 miles

Miles to Durban 176 miles