News from the fleet:
Alexforbes ArchAngel
All good on board, we getting there.
Argonaut
All well on board. Hot.
Nyamazela
Trust all well in Rio and the beers and caprinhas are cold !
Adventurerio 4
We have been complaining about the light winds. On our way from Brazil to South Africa we averaged 205 nm per day, and we were cruising at ease. Our best run was 244nm in 24hs, our worst was 134nm (yes, we used the engine to help when it was really slow). During this Cape2Rio our best run so far was 274nm and the worst… 112! But we also did 114, 118, 131… 3 days ago things got better and we covered 200nm in 24hs (for the first time in 10 days!). But yesterday we did only 159 and today 134… and things don’t seem to be improving before tomorrow afternoon…This night at 01:30 the wind died completely again, after a badly positioned cloud passed close to us (our speed was so slow already that we couldn’t avoid it). And then a flock of dark birds landed on board! Looked like a terror movie!!! After some minutes we lost steerage way and were pointing the wrong direction. Lost ½ hour trying to point the boat, fill the sails and resume our slow journey. And the birds left their poo all over our deck! Some minutes ago, when we updated our PredictWind, a string of fishing buoys appeared just ahead of us, 30nm to each side! They are followed by a Chinese fishing boat (Yun Mao No. 102). We are now praying that we don’t get fished, literally!
Atalanta
Its hot out today. Don’t forget to spritz.
Cool Ideas Nemesis
All good with all on board. Water maker pump stripped & repairs made. All working again. Made water for 4 hours yesterday and 2 hours today. Tanks full. Crisis averted. Beautiful sailing conditions. Torn S2 during hoist this morning so A2 up now and making repairs.
Felix
News from the Sweeper. In the Comrades marathon they have a sweeper van that picks up the runners that Kan nie Meer. Runners refer to it as the vulture van, and if it follows you for any length of time you know you are in trouble. Felix is hopefully the van and not the runner. The wind will decide this. Doubtfire found the sailor frothing at the mouth at the helm today, demanding that the crew be woken to install the autohelm. A few tweaks on the sails, wind found the sweet spot, and the Kan nie Meer attitude evaporated. The Meerkat is up from her burrow and has taken on the baking challenge with Doubtfire. The drunken Miss C was flirting with the artist until early hours of this morning, and is today paying the price in this sweltering heat. His commitment to install the autohelm is unwavering, unlike his helming, and he had been put on a drinking ban. For those that know the Comrades we are in Hillcrest, making the cutoff in Pietermaritzburg is still in sight, and getting into the van is not an option.
Stern
All good on Sterna
Ray of Light
Yesterday afternoon the wind went super light on us. We grabbed the opportunity for some main sail maintenance. Mr Tiley Sir with the aid of Tammy sitting inside the stack pack, got the top third of the mainsail off the mast, wrapped the inboard end of the battens in sticky back and drilled 4mm holes through the battens and receptacles on the sail. He then stitched the battens to the receptacles using dyneema kite line. So far the battens are working well, although yet to be tested by some breeze.Francois and I replaced the cascades on the kicker with some bright green dyneema, the same stuff we used for the Bob stay. We are certainly a colorful boat with red white and blue Ullman sail bags all over the deck, a blue stackpack and a rainbow of colored ropes. As we use both symmetrical and asymmetrical spinnaker as well as staysails and gybe preventers, there is rope everywhere. It’d an ongoing job o every watch to keep the cockpit neat and tidy, ready for the next move. We studied the gribs and routings. It was clear that we needed another hitch north to stay in the breeze. This morning we gybed back onto port and are making better vmg toward Rio. If the forecasts are correct we should have one more gybe and then starboard all the way to Cabo Frio. Let’s see. For now sailing nicely with full main, A2 and SS in about 8-10 knots. Glorious morning. Today we plan to make water while on port, once on starboard and healing over it will be almost impossible to pick up bubble free water. And more soft shackles. When you have them it’s amazing how quickly you can find uses for them. Francois still trying to master the diamond knot. Time to catch an hour or two sleep.
THESE RESULTS ARE PREDICTED OR PROVISIONAL – 19/01/2023 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 | 19 Jan 14:00:07 | 350,7 | 3436,7 | 7,5 | 21 Jan 12:55:45 | 18d 22h 55m 45s | 21 Jan 12:55:45 | 18d 22h 55m 45s | 022° 51.408S, 036° 43.824W |
| 2 | Aventureiro 4 | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 491,7 | 3100,6 | 5,9 | 23 Jan 01:41:44 | 20d 11h 41m 44s | 23 Jan 01:41:44 | 20d 11h 41m 44s | 022° 27.660S, 034° 12.372W |
| 3 | Atalanta | 19 Jan 14:00:00 | 721,6 | 2900,8 | 5,3 | 25 Jan 06:02:24 | 22d 16h 2m 24s | 25 Jan 06:02:24 | 22d 16h 2m 24s | 021° 13.098S, 030° 13.746W |
| 4 | Ray of Light | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 808,1 | 2990,4 | 4,8 | 26 Jan 15:22:30 | 24d 1h 22m 30s | 26 Jan 15:22:30 | 24d 1h 22m 30s | 021° 26.724S, 028° 36.960W |
| 5 | Audaz II | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 828,0 | 2834,1 | 6,4 | 24 Jan 22:50:55 | 22d 8h 50m 55s | 24 Jan 22:50:55 | 22d 8h 50m 55s | 020° 47.968S, 028° 22.930W |
| 6 | Translated 9 | 19 Jan 14:00:05 | 918,6 | 2683,7 | 3,6 | 30 Jan 05:04:11 | 27d 15h 4m 11s | 30 Jan 05:04:11 | 27d 15h 4m 11s | 021° 53.064S, 026° 32.646W |
| 7 | Nemesis | 19 Jan 14:00:04 | 1099,7 | 2657,5 | 6,3 | 26 Jan 21:20:15 | 24d 7h 20m 15s | 26 Jan 21:20:15 | 24d 7h 20m 15s | 020° 42.102S, 023° 28.026W |
| 8 | Alexforbes ArchAngel | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 1150,8 | 2493,9 | 6,3 | 27 Jan 04:41:01 | 24d 14h 41m 1s | 27 Jan 04:41:01 | 24d 14h 41m 1s | 020° 45.996S, 022° 31.650W |
| 9 | Argonaut | 19 Jan 14:00:00 | 1183,4 | 2656,2 | 5,2 | 28 Jan 23:32:05 | 26d 9h 32m 5s | 28 Jan 23:32:05 | 26d 9h 32m 5s | 019° 37.620S, 022° 11.604W |
| 10 | Sterna | 19 Jan 14:00:04 | 1215,9 | 2433,0 | 6,2 | 27 Jan 18:19:31 | 25d 4h 19m 31s | 27 Jan 18:19:31 | 25d 4h 19m 31s | 021° 05.868S, 021° 17.154W |
| 11 | Faros | 19 Jan 10:00:04 | 1420,7 | 2183,1 | 4,5 | 01 Feb 11:58:21 | 29d 21h 58m 21s | 01 Feb 11:58:21 | 29d 21h 58m 21s | 020° 56.562S, 017° 36.366W |
| 12 | Nyamazela | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 1471,8 | 2184,0 | 5,7 | 30 Jan 09:06:57 | 27d 19h 6m 57s | 30 Jan 09:06:57 | 27d 19h 6m 57s | 020° 32.856S, 016° 45.396W |
| 13 | Felix | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 1486,3 | 2188,4 | 5,3 | 31 Jan 08:35:18 | 28d 18h 35m 18s | 31 Jan 08:35:18 | 28d 18h 35m 18s | 021° 07.992S, 016° 23.052W |
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 | 19 Jan 14:00:00 | 721,6 | 2900,8 | 5,3 | 25 Jan 06:02:24 | 22d 16h 2m 24s | 25 Jan 09:50:54 | 22d 19h 50m 54s | 021° 13.098S, 030° 13.746W |
| 2 | Alexforbes ArchAngel | 0,997 | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 1150,8 | 2493,9 | 6,3 | 27 Jan 04:41:01 | 24d 14h 41m 1s | 27 Jan 02:54:42 | 24d 12h 54m 42s | 020° 45.996S, 022° 31.650W |
| 3 | Audaz II | 1,126 | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 828,0 | 2834,1 | 6,4 | 24 Jan 22:50:55 | 22d 8h 50m 55s | 27 Jan 18:29:30 | 25d 4h 29m 30s | 020° 47.968S, 028° 22.930W |
| 4 | Nemesis | 1,081 | 19 Jan 14:00:04 | 1099,7 | 2657,5 | 6,3 | 26 Jan 21:20:15 | 24d 7h 20m 15s | 28 Jan 20:35:16 | 26d 6h 35m 16s | 020° 42.102S, 023° 28.026W |
| 5 | Nyamazela | 0,948 | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 1471,8 | 2184,0 | 5,7 | 30 Jan 09:06:57 | 27d 19h 6m 57s | 28 Jan 22:25:33 | 26d 8h 25m 33s | 020° 32.856S, 016° 45.396W |
| 6 | Felix | 0,932 | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 1486,3 | 2188,4 | 5,3 | 31 Jan 08:35:18 | 28d 18h 35m 18s | 29 Jan 09:37:42 | 26d 19h 37m 42s | 021° 07.992S, 016° 23.052W |
| 7 | Ray of Light | 1,118 | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 808,1 | 2990,4 | 4,8 | 26 Jan 15:22:30 | 24d 1h 22m 30s | 29 Jan 11:30:19 | 26d 21h 30m 19s | 021° 26.724S, 028° 36.960W |
| 8 | Sterna | 1,071 | 19 Jan 14:00:04 | 1215,9 | 2433,0 | 6,2 | 27 Jan 18:19:31 | 25d 4h 19m 31s | 29 Jan 13:13:57 | 26d 23h 13m 57s | 021° 05.868S, 021° 17.154W |
| 9 | Argonaut | 1,055 | 19 Jan 14:00:00 | 1183,4 | 2656,2 | 5,2 | 28 Jan 23:32:05 | 26d 9h 32m 5s | 30 Jan 10:22:45 | 27d 20h 22m 45s | 019° 37.620S, 022° 11.604W |
| 10 | Translated 9 | 1,134 | 19 Jan 14:00:05 | 918,6 | 2683,7 | 3,6 | 30 Jan 05:04:11 | 27d 15h 4m 11s | 02 Feb 21:55:16 | 31d 7h 55m 16s | 021° 53.064S, 026° 32.646W |
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 | 19 Jan 14:00:07 | 350,7 | 3436,7 | 7,5 | 21 Jan 12:55:45 | 18d 22h 55m 45s | 24 Jan 02:47:58 | 21d 12h 47m 58s | 022° 51.408S, 036° 43.824W |
| 2 | Aventureiro 4 | 1,178 | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 491,7 | 3100,6 | 5,9 | 23 Jan 01:41:44 | 20d 11h 41m 44s | 26 Jan 17:13:03 | 24d 3h 13m 3s | 022° 27.660S, 034° 12.372W |
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 | 19 Jan 14:00:00 | 721,6 | 2900,8 | 5,3 | 25 Jan 06:02:24 | 22d 16h 2m 24s | 27 Jan 15:58:49 | 25d 1h 58m 49s | 021° 13.098S, 030° 13.746W |
| 2 | Alexforbes ArchAngel | 1,063 | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 1150,8 | 2493,9 | 6,3 | 27 Jan 04:41:01 | 24d 14h 41m 1s | 28 Jan 17:57:21 | 26d 3h 57m 21s | 020° 45.996S, 022° 31.650W |
| 3 | Nyamazela | 1,012 | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 1471,8 | 2184,0 | 5,7 | 30 Jan 09:06:57 | 27d 19h 6m 57s | 30 Jan 16:55:16 | 28d 2h 55m 16s | 020° 32.856S, 016° 45.396W |
| 4 | Nemesis | 1,178 | 19 Jan 14:00:04 | 1099,7 | 2657,5 | 6,3 | 26 Jan 21:20:15 | 24d 7h 20m 15s | 31 Jan 05:10:18 | 28d 15h 10m 18s | 020° 42.102S, 023° 28.026W |
| 5 | Felix | 1,012 | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 1486,3 | 2188,4 | 5,3 | 31 Jan 08:35:18 | 28d 18h 35m 18s | 31 Jan 17:04:57 | 29d 3h 4m 57s | 021° 07.992S, 016° 23.052W |
| 6 | Ray of Light | 1,211 | 19 Jan 14:00:06 | 808,1 | 2990,4 | 4,8 | 26 Jan 15:22:30 | 24d 1h 22m 30s | 31 Jan 17:08:36 | 29d 3h 8m 36s | 021° 26.724S, 028° 36.960W |
| 7 | Sterna | 1,172 | 19 Jan 14:00:04 | 1215,9 | 2433,0 | 6,2 | 27 Jan 18:19:31 | 25d 4h 19m 31s | 01 Feb 02:08:54 | 29d 12h 8m 54s | 021° 05.868S, 021° 17.154W |
| 8 | Argonaut | 1,152 | 19 Jan 14:00:00 | 1183,4 | 2656,2 | 5,2 | 28 Jan 23:32:05 | 26d 9h 32m 5s | 01 Feb 23:49:55 | 30d 9h 49m 55s | 019° 37.620S, 022° 11.604W |
| 9 | Faros | 1,043 | 19 Jan 10:00:04 | 1420,7 | 2183,1 | 4,5 | 01 Feb 11:58:21 | 29d 21h 58m 21s | 02 Feb 18:33:29 | 31d 4h 33m 29s | 020° 56.562S, 017° 36.366W |
