Day 206

Parading

Kirsten, Abhilash and Simon (CH) are lined up between 1 and 3 degrees of North latitude, as if on parade, celebrating not only their 2nd Equator crossing in this GGR, but perhaps also their Doldrum exit? In any case, the speeds speak for themselves at 0800 UTC: 5.4 knots for Kirsten, 4.9 for Simon and 4.5 for Abhilash. Kirsten is still 300 miles ahead of Abhilash with less than 2900 miles to go. Minnehaha is definitely putting up a fight!

It’s busy in the South Atlantic. Nuri is in well-established trade winds, back to his metronomic average of 140 miles/day after two timid days shy of 100. At this rate Michael will be in the ITCZ in 5 days, enough for the others in front to be well out of it. Jeremy (CH) is taking advantage of the champagne sailing conditions these days, and the weather is getting warmer for the first time since Cape Town. He will be in bad weather again this weekend though.

At 55° South, Ian (CH) , who is the last sailor of the GGR fleet in the Southern Ocean, has set off again this morning under falling snow after repairing his Hydrovane at the entrance to the Beagle Channel. Ian, the most social sailor of the fleet, had the assistance of Mark and Caroline on S/Y Jonathan for repairs and formalities, but also their precious company to stock-up on conversation and human warmth for the last 6800 miles!