JesseMartin.Net
02 March 1999
I 'M looking at the temperature gauge and it's reading 8.7 degrees celsius. Man, it's cold if you don't rug up!
The sun is going down after a rare appearance and the temperature will probably drop another few degrees, but it's been a good day of cleaning up.
I'm only a few days away from the Horn and the wind has died to 10 knots.
My nerves will have to put up with an extra day's wait until I round the Horn, which will hopefully be before the next low comes through.
Cape Horn has been feared by seamen for ages because of extreme weather conditions.
Lots of trading vessels that had to pass the Horn before the Panama Canal was built simply disappeared, presumably crushed against the unforgiving cliff faces.
There was a disease then which sailors claimed they had caught so they could get transferred to land before the ship had to pass the Horn.
Just on 200 nautical miles, or less than half the distance from Sydney to Melbourne, south of Cape Horn is the Antarctic convergence.
I'm not exactly sure what this is, but it sounds cold and I sure wouldn't like to go down there.
On Friday night I lay my head down for a rest just as it was getting light.
It had been blowing 40 knots and the seas were moderate but I was going the wrong direction so I "hove to" which is a method by which you stop the boat by pointing her into the wind and waves.
Two hours later I was woken by a knock down (when a wave strikes a boat and tips it over).
I had received small ones through the day but this was a full-on lefty in the jaw.
I must have passed the 90 degree point as objects were lodged in places that seemed to defy gravity.
Later that day I spoke to a competitor in the Around Alone race who was 180 nautical miles closer to the Horn than I was. He had 50 knots gusting 70 knots and was getting knocked down by 12-metre waves.
I now know why Cape Horn has such a bad reputation. I'm trying to get out of here as fast as I can.
My spirits were high today and the sun gave me a chance to clean things while I sang along to Pearl Jam's song I'm Still Alive.
Travis and Darren of Upwey wanted to know what type of strenuous activities I get up to.
It can be hard work changing sails and grinding winches and getting water from the tap is an effort.
I have to pump and pump until enough pressure has built to suck the water from the tanks, which can work me up into quite a sweat.
Daniel and Steve from Horsham Lutheran Primary School also wanted to know what music I listen to the most and what was the best meal I have had so far.