News from the fleet:
Alexforbes ArchAngel
Everything is good on board moving at a steady speed.
Adventurerio 4
This night we had good wind but VERY turbulent, with some shifts of 20 and even 30 degrees coming suddenly. It made steering more difficult, and our big spi started to colapse sometimes, which is dangerous. Coupled with an increase in the wind speed, sometimes reaching 22 kts, we decided to change for our smaller, heavier and more stable spinnaker. We are now making good progress towards Rio. Early morning the sun rose involved in heavy rain clouds that we call “Pirajás” on our area of Recife. Being very close to the Equator, at only 8 degrees of latitude, those squall clouds are very common there. Their appearance here make us remember home. A home port that will still be 1200nm away when we arrive at Rio!The weather forecast seems better from here to the finish, but still some tricky patterns to negotiate. Today is Saturday, so we will have Feijoada to celebrate. And a few cans of beer that the Admiral was able to hide from the weight control…Feijoada, beer and Shosholoza!
Atalanta
Bit breezy today. Got the A5 up and humming along in what i call “4 x 4 mode.” Great fun!
Argonaut
It’s hot. Really really hot. Send ice. Who knew the tropics were so warm. It’s a scam. Again I say it is hot. Also doing 8 to 10 knots consistently in the right direction which is nice. Would like a swim!! But 8 to 10 knots in the direction of caprinha land. Can’t stop.
Audaz
Today we have an on-board celebretion. Happy birthday Marcos Olivio!!!!!
Today he choose the menu and don’t wash dishes!!!
Faros
Yesterday we realised that we lost a very valuable sailing feature through technology. Given that we have races using old methods, there is no reason not to bring back the crow’s nest. Up at the mast yesterday after a broken block chafed through the spinnaker halyard, it was apparent that the view from there is spectacular. Maybe the crow’s nest for sundowners should make a come back. Anyway, halyard fixed and a new block in place, means Faros is ready to fly the kite again. Generally the sailing has been excellent, especially when it was the full moon. Small issues crop up and being able to deal with them, is essential. Why else would the alternator pack up other than to give us the opportunity to install the original one? On top of that the larger alternator (now ex alternator) had some alterations to make it fit, so those had to be reversed. With a few plans made by our mechanical wizard, Faros has power again, even though the charging requires next level changing of battery poles. With the engine making noise longer than usual we, unlike some others, think fondly of our ex.But we will get over it, strategising on our sail plan, while eating our fresh sushi, ceviche and Richard Bosman prosciutto in our crow’s nest.
Cool Ideas Nemesis
All good with all on board. Finally enjoying some wind again. S2 finally up.
Nyamazela
Somewhat of a choppy sea today otherwise all good
Ray of Light
What were you doing at 0100 SA Time? Here on ROL it was watch and sail change time. At sunset we discussed changing the S4 to the smaller S6 spinnaker for the night. Our 14yr old pro helm convinced us that the S4 can handle 20+ knots and drives the boat through the waves better than the S6.He was not wrong, however at night it adds a different level of challenge for the crew on watch. Sean ans Tammy took the first two hour watch and did a great job, driving the boat wi5h the exhuberance of youth. They handed over to Malcolm and Francois for the next 2 hours. By this time the wind was up to 27 knots in the gusts. Still Malcolm and Francois sailed the boat on the edge for 2 hours, not wiping out at all. When Francois woke Jenna and I, Malcolm’s nerves were shot. We finally made the call to change to the S6 with the wind regularly over 25knots. On the bow were Tammy, Jen and Sean. Francois and in the pit, Malcolm at the helm and Heidi in the forward head to pull the S4 through the hatch below deck. All set, ease the guy to just shy of the forestay, sheet on to stretch the foot, controlled halyard blow. Then little hands spinning as fast as a hamster on a wheel quickly retrieved the kite and into the forward head it went, awesome. Change to the fractional halyard, stow the mast head halyard at the base of the mast, plug in guy and sheet, sneak the guy to the pole, hoist! Getting the last three meters of halyard up with the kite drawing in 25kts breeze was the greatest challenge. Surf a wave and wind on the halyard, made in no time. What a great job, all under starlight. What followed was the most incredible night of downwind sailing. Shorts and a T-shirt, 25deg water, 18-25knots wind, clear skies, bright stars and Ray of Light doing 8,9,10,11,12, next wave repeat. Over and over, this is what makes a race like this so special. Jenna and I decided to extend our watch by an hour to give the others a bit more sleep, Malcolm and Francois reciprocated in the early hours of the morning for us. We have a great blend of youth and experience. Everyone pitching in, no complaints. With Sean and Tammy taking a watch on their own in any conditions, we have the luxury of three watches. Great to be part of this team and watch the skills grow mile by mile. And we bake da bread!
Sterna
All well on Sterna
THESE RESULTS ARE PREDICTED OR PROVISIONAL – 10/01/2023 14:00:00B
Line Honours:
| Pos | Name | Last update | DTF (NM) | Distance Sailed (NM) | VMG Recent (Knots) | Estimated finish time (SAST) | Elapsed time | Estimated finish time (SAST) corrected | Elapsed time corrected | Latest Position |
| 1 | Norhi | 14 Jan 14:00:06 | 1248,1 | 2395,1 | 7,4 | 21 Jan 13:46:27 | 18d 23h 46m 27s | 21 Jan 13:46:27 | 18d 23h 46m 27s | 024° 52.650S, 020° 23.112W |
| 2 | Aventureiro 4 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 1290,3 | 2214,2 | 7,9 | 21 Jan 09:02:08 | 18d 19h 2m 8s | 21 Jan 09:02:08 | 18d 19h 2m 8s | 025° 01.620S, 019° 36.756W |
| 3 | Atalanta | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 1486,8 | 2051,2 | 7,1 | 23 Jan 08:53:00 | 20d 18h 53m 0s | 23 Jan 08:53:00 | 20d 18h 53m 0s | 022° 38.112S, 016° 09.498W |
| 4 | Translated 9 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 1526,3 | 1918,1 | 5,9 | 25 Jan 07:14:30 | 22d 17h 14m 30s | 25 Jan 07:14:30 | 22d 17h 14m 30s | 027° 36.006S, 015° 20.760W |
| 5 | Ray of Light | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 1651,4 | 2093,9 | 8,9 | 22 Jan 08:12:58 | 19d 18h 12m 58s | 22 Jan 08:12:58 | 19d 18h 12m 58s | 020° 45.540S, 013° 27.816W |
| 6 | Audaz II | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 1668,3 | 1950,3 | 6,1 | 25 Jan 21:43:40 | 23d 7h 43m 40s | 25 Jan 21:43:40 | 23d 7h 43m 40s | 020° 05.221S, 013° 17.697W |
| 7 | Nemesis | 14 Jan 14:00:04 | 1776,6 | 1831,9 | 3,2 | 06 Feb 18:18:21 | 35d 4h 18m 21s | 06 Feb 18:18:21 | 35d 4h 18m 21s | 024° 14.568S, 010° 43.050W |
| 8 | Alexforbes ArchAngel | 14 Jan 14:00:07 | 1848,4 | 1707,6 | 5,1 | 29 Jan 13:54:04 | 26d 23h 54m 4s | 29 Jan 13:54:04 | 26d 23h 54m 4s | 023° 55.446S, 009° 25.896W |
| 9 | Sterna | 14 Jan 14:00:04 | 1904,8 | 1634,1 | 4,1 | 03 Feb 00:24:15 | 31d 10h 24m 15s | 03 Feb 00:24:15 | 31d 10h 24m 15s | 024° 22.446S, 008° 21.228W |
| 10 | Faros | 14 Jan 14:01:36 | 1944,8 | 1517,5 | 5,9 | 28 Jan 09:29:18 | 25d 19h 29m 18s | 28 Jan 09:29:18 | 25d 19h 29m 18s | 025° 47.220S, 007° 30.936W |
| 11 | Argonaut | 14 Jan 14:00:06 | 1946,8 | 1819,5 | 7,8 | 25 Jan 00:41:15 | 22d 10h 41m 15s | 25 Jan 00:41:15 | 22d 10h 41m 15s | 020° 50.994S, 008° 05.754W |
| 12 | Felix | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 2064,2 | 1510,3 | 5,9 | 29 Jan 02:56:55 | 26d 12h 56m 55s | 29 Jan 02:56:55 | 26d 12h 56m 55s | 024° 00.888S, 005° 27.996W |
| 13 | DHL Me2Me | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 2121,0 | 1543,7 | 4,4 | 03 Feb 15:55:52 | 32d 1h 55m 52s | 03 Feb 15:55:52 | 32d 1h 55m 52s | 024° 21.144S, 004° 23.070W |
| 14 | Nyamazela | 14 Jan 14:00:06 | 2122,2 | 1460,2 | 5,9 | 29 Jan 10:42:07 | 26d 20h 42m 7s | 29 Jan 10:42:07 | 26d 20h 42m 7s | 022° 08.604S, 004° 40.416W |
| Tarini | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 2168,0 | 1766,3 | 1,6 | 11 Mar 18:52:26 | RETIRED – Skipper retired 08/01 | 015° 58.992S, 005° 21.690W | |||
| The Impossible Machine | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 2302,7 | 1602,8 | 0,1 | 20 Aug 08:21:36 | RETIRED – 09/01 – skipper retired vessel | 018° 21.696S, 002° 13.518W |
IRC
| Pos | Name | Rating | Last update | DTF (NM) | Distance Sailed (NM) | VMG Recent (Knots) | Estimated finish time (SAST) | Elapsed time | Estimated finish time (SAST) corrected | Elapsed time corrected | Latest Position |
| 1 | Atalanta | 1,007 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 1486,8 | 2051,2 | 7,1 | 23 Jan 08:53:00 | 20d 18h 53m 0s | 23 Jan 12:22:32 | 20d 22h 22m 32s | 022° 38.112S, 016° 09.498W |
| 2 | Ray of Light | 1,118 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 1651,4 | 2093,9 | 8,9 | 22 Jan 08:12:58 | 19d 18h 12m 58s | 24 Jan 16:10:25 | 22d 2h 10m 25s | 020° 45.540S, 013° 27.816W |
| 3 | Argonaut | 1,055 | 14 Jan 14:00:06 | 1946,8 | 1819,5 | 7,8 | 25 Jan 00:41:15 | 22d 10h 41m 15s | 26 Jan 06:18:55 | 23d 16h 18m 55s | 020° 50.994S, 008° 05.754W |
| 4 | Felix | 0,932 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 2064,2 | 1510,3 | 5,9 | 29 Jan 02:56:55 | 26d 12h 56m 55s | 27 Jan 07:38:10 | 24d 17h 38m 10s | 024° 00.888S, 005° 27.996W |
| 5 | Nyamazela | 0,948 | 14 Jan 14:00:06 | 2122,2 | 1460,2 | 5,9 | 29 Jan 10:42:07 | 26d 20h 42m 7s | 28 Jan 01:10:39 | 25d 11h 10m 39s | 022° 08.604S, 004° 40.416W |
| 6 | Translated 9 | 1,134 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 1526,3 | 1918,1 | 5,9 | 25 Jan 07:14:30 | 22d 17h 14m 30s | 28 Jan 08:18:15 | 25d 18h 18m 15s | 027° 36.006S, 015° 20.760W |
| 7 | Audaz II | 1,126 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 1668,3 | 1950,3 | 6,1 | 25 Jan 21:43:40 | 23d 7h 43m 40s | 28 Jan 20:15:13 | 26d 6h 15m 13s | 020° 05.221S, 013° 17.697W |
| 8 | Alexforbes ArchAngel | 0,997 | 14 Jan 14:00:07 | 1848,4 | 1707,6 | 5,1 | 29 Jan 13:54:04 | 26d 23h 54m 4s | 29 Jan 11:57:27 | 26d 21h 57m 27s | 023° 55.446S, 009° 25.896W |
| 9 | DHL Me2Me | 1,008 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 2121,0 | 1543,7 | 4,4 | 03 Feb 15:55:52 | 32d 1h 55m 52s | 03 Feb 22:05:26 | 32d 8h 5m 26s | 024° 21.144S, 004° 23.070W |
| 10 | Sterna | 1,071 | 14 Jan 14:00:04 | 1904,8 | 1634,1 | 4,1 | 03 Feb 00:24:15 | 31d 10h 24m 15s | 05 Feb 05:58:01 | 33d 15h 58m 1s | 024° 22.446S, 008° 21.228W |
| 11 | Nemesis | 1,081 | 14 Jan 14:00:04 | 1776,6 | 1831,9 | 3,2 | 06 Feb 18:18:21 | 35d 4h 18m 21s | 09 Feb 14:41:41 | 38d 0h 41m 41s | 024° 14.568S, 010° 43.050W |
| The Impossible Machine | 0,972 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 2302,7 | 1602,8 | 0,1 | 20 Aug 08:21:36 | RETIRED – 09/01 – skipper retired vessel | 018° 21.696S, 002° 13.518W | |||
| Tarini | 1,162 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 2168,0 | 1766,3 | 1,6 | 11 Mar 18:52:26 | RETIRED – Skipper retired 08/01 | 015° 58.992S, 005° 21.690W |
MOCRA
| Pos | Name | Rating | Last update | DTF (NM) | Distance Sailed (NM) | VMG Recent (Knots) | Estimated finish time (SAST) | Elapsed time | Estimated finish time (SAST) corrected | Elapsed time corrected | Latest Position |
| 1 | Norhi | 1,136 | 14 Jan 14:00:06 | 1248,1 | 2395,1 | 7,4 | 21 Jan 13:46:27 | 18d 23h 46m 27s | 24 Jan 03:45:34 | 21d 13h 45m 34s | 024° 52.650S, 020° 23.112W |
| 2 | Aventureiro 4 | 1,178 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 1290,3 | 2214,2 | 7,9 | 21 Jan 09:02:08 | 18d 19h 2m 8s | 24 Jan 17:19:12 | 22d 3h 19m 12s | 025° 01.620S, 019° 36.756W |
ORC
| Pos | Name | Rating | Last update | DTF (NM) | Distance Sailed (NM) | VMG Recent (Knots) | Estimated finish time (SAST) | Elapsed time | Estimated finish time (SAST) corrected | Elapsed time corrected | Latest Position |
| 1 | Atalanta | 1,107 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 1486,8 | 2051,2 | 7,1 | 23 Jan 08:53:00 | 20d 18h 53m 0s | 25 Jan 14:00:52 | 23d 0h 0m 52s | 022° 38.112S, 016° 09.498W |
| 2 | Ray of Light | 1,211 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 1651,4 | 2093,9 | 8,9 | 22 Jan 08:12:58 | 19d 18h 12m 58s | 26 Jan 12:13:42 | 23d 22h 13m 42s | 020° 45.540S, 013° 27.816W |
| 3 | Argonaut | 1,152 | 14 Jan 14:00:06 | 1946,8 | 1819,5 | 7,8 | 25 Jan 00:41:15 | 22d 10h 41m 15s | 28 Jan 10:34:05 | 25d 20h 34m 5s | 020° 50.994S, 008° 05.754W |
| 4 | Felix | 1,012 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 2064,2 | 1510,3 | 5,9 | 29 Jan 02:56:55 | 26d 12h 56m 55s | 29 Jan 10:46:59 | 26d 20h 46m 59s | 024° 00.888S, 005° 27.996W |
| 5 | Faros | 1,043 | 14 Jan 14:01:36 | 1944,8 | 1517,5 | 5,9 | 28 Jan 09:29:18 | 25d 19h 29m 18s | 29 Jan 11:52:43 | 26d 21h 52m 43s | 025° 47.220S, 007° 30.936W |
| 6 | Nyamazela | 1,012 | 14 Jan 14:00:06 | 2122,2 | 1460,2 | 5,9 | 29 Jan 10:42:07 | 26d 20h 42m 7s | 29 Jan 18:14:42 | 27d 4h 14m 42s | 022° 08.604S, 004° 40.416W |
| 7 | Alexforbes ArchAngel | 1,063 | 14 Jan 14:00:07 | 1848,4 | 1707,6 | 5,1 | 29 Jan 13:54:04 | 26d 23h 54m 4s | 31 Jan 06:47:01 | 28d 16h 47m 1s | 023° 55.446S, 009° 25.896W |
| 8 | DHL Me2Me | 1,092 | 14 Jan 14:00:05 | 2121,0 | 1543,7 | 4,4 | 03 Feb 15:55:52 | 32d 1h 55m 52s | 06 Feb 14:59:45 | 35d 0h 59m 45s | 024° 21.144S, 004° 23.070W |
| 9 | Sterna | 1,172 | 14 Jan 14:00:04 | 1904,8 | 1634,1 | 4,1 | 03 Feb 00:24:15 | 31d 10h 24m 15s | 08 Feb 10:00:39 | 36d 20h 0m 39s | 024° 22.446S, 008° 21.228W |
| 10 | Nemesis | 1,178 | 14 Jan 14:00:04 | 1776,6 | 1831,9 | 3,2 | 06 Feb 18:18:21 | 35d 4h 18m 21s | 13 Feb 00:35:32 | 41d 10h 35m 32s | 024° 14.568S, 010° 43.050W |
