News from the fleet
SV Alexforbes Angel Wings-Angel Wings has met a challenge in the Cape2Rio 2025 Race after the boom broke during a gybe. All crew are safe, the situation managed, and the team has successfully stabilised the boat and continues sailing toward Rio with little loss of speed. While the focus has shifted from racing to safe seamanship, the crew’s maturity, teamwork, and determination truly stand out. At this stage Alexforbes Angel Wings is still leading the race. “The game isn’t over until the final whistle blows”
SV Suidoos – The last few days on board have been calm. The wind has eased quite a bit, which has slowed me down, and I have also been dealing with an adverse current.
At times I even thought it might be a fishing net tangled around the keel, since other boats in the fleet reported spotting nets along the route. But I checked with the camera and there was nothing underwater. Confirming with the weather data, it really is a combination of currents and moderate winds slowing us down quite a bit.
Despite that, I have been making the most of these days. The heat is already intense here, the same heat you are dealing with in Brazil. I have been enjoying sunbathing and taking lots of bucket showers.
Today we started seeing many squalls, heavy clouds that arriving suddenly, bringing strong gusts and rain, and disappear just as quickly.
I have been using these moments well to improve my angle and gain speed. I also take advantage of them to shower. Today I managed to take a freshwater shower, which felt like a gift. The boat got a good rinse too. I felt it was good for her. I took the opportunity to lubricate what needed it and to check everything: shackles, blocks, stoppers. All checked.
A few days ago I had an issue with the Code Zero halyard and the sail ended up going into the water. I managed to recover it with some patience, but quickly. It was not easy. Even after dropping the mainsail and sailing under drift, we were still doing about 3 knots, and the sail was very heavy. But everything worked out. I released the lines, brought the sail back on board, and there was no damage.
There are just a few stains from the hull’s antifouling paint, reddish marks on an otherwise white sail. Nothing more than that.
Today I also had a curious encounter with a Spanish fishing boat. It was exactly on my course and passed very close to me, almost alongside. We ended up talking. At first we spoke in English, but when I noticed the Spanish flag and his accent, I suggested we speak Spanish. The conversation flowed much better. He asked what I was doing out here and commented on the size of my boat.
Although it was nice to exchange a few words after so many days alone, the situation also made me apprehensive. A fishing boat can approach at any moment, with several men on board who have been at sea for weeks, and there I was, alone. When they asked about me, I did not make it clear that I was by myself. I said I was part of a team, in a race, a regatta, and that I was being monitored. They were kind and even offered fresh fish, saying they could manoeuvre and send something over. I declined.
They did not seem ill intentioned, but you never really know. This kind of alert comes very much from being a woman. I think that if I were a man, I might not have felt the same fear. So far, this has been the moment of greatest apprehension of the crossing. If I had a man on board, maybe I would have accepted the gifts and we would have had a good story to tell.
Overall, the mood on board remains excellent. A lot of sun during the day, incredibly starry nights. Sometimes I feel like I am sailing inside a dome. Many small flying fish appear on deck, tiny ones, they look like little fairies. So far none of the big ones, just the one that hit me in the face the other day.
I have been resting well, managing to relax, and eating very well too. There is still plenty of fresh water on board. I have been writing a lot. Sometimes I film when I feel like it, but I admit I am not very friendly with the camera.
I am doing well.
Feeling complete and fulfilled, just wishing for a bit more wind.
I don’t know if we’ll make the podium. The stop in Saldanha set us back, and I made a decision to head north that cost me VMG.
But that was never an objective of this project. From the very beginning, the focus has been to arrive well and safely.
Maybe next time I’ll come back with more maturity and experience to compete with the big fish.
From here, I’ll do my best to be in Rio on January 24th.
SV African Skimmer – It has been one hell of a morning. First, the block on our main sheet exploded. We had to jury rig a spare block with some spectra but were up and running again quickly. Then we lost steerage. Our (brand new) rudder cable had snapped. We quickly whipped out the emergency steering, rigged it up along with a drogue to maintain steerage while we started work on repairing the cable. It took us about 3 h of blood, sweat and tears to rig a new rudder cable using spectra.
Some great teamwork involved. Thankfully, we are back up flying along with the A4 up. We are going to have to be a little careful with the steering from now onwards but hopefully our repair will last until we get to Rio…. 🤕
