Thursday, December 16, 2010

The Start at Last

The forecast was disappointing and it became obvious quickly that starting Leg 2 of the VELUX 5 OCEANS on Sunday, December 12, was going to be dangerous. Severe weather conditions at the Cape of Good Hope and in the Agulhas Current would bring damage to my boat or others. I find it a difficult place to be. I’m ready to go. The boat is ready. It has been strange being geared up and ready to go and not being able to take off. I’ve been trying to stay in the groove and remain mentally fired up to start, especially considering it is a leg of the race that will send us into heavy weather. I’ve been waiting for the word from race admin to go and it finally is here today.


It appears we will have light conditions. It is no secret that the entire fleet will aim to get south as quickly as possible. I look forward to hitting the westerly winds that prevail in the Southern Ocean. The extended forecast looks pretty good for the first week with consistent westerlies. The huge storm that prevented our original start last weekend has moved off now to the west leaving mellow conditions for the next few days.

One of the nice things about the delay in starting out of Cape Town is that I got to see the wedding of Jeffrey Wargo, my Project Manager and friend, who tied the knot yesterday in the winelands of Stellenbosch. Congrats to Jeffrey and Lizzie!

Stay tuned for more news as I leave the dock and sail south. Cheers,

Brad

8 comments:

  1. Good luck Brad!!! Looking forward to following leg 2 of this great adventure!

    Ryan H.

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  2. The Charleston group is behind you, and tracking your journey. Be safe, Pal.
    Pete R., Charleston

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  3. Sail on, Brad! Be safe - we are behind you all the way! The Brelands, Ed & Jackie

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  4. What a great day in Cape Town. After meeting you briefly on Tuesday, I watched the start from the breakwater, with two of your support team (a lawyer neighbor from SC, and a local guy from Hout Bay), then followed the fleet down the coast. At Kommetjie I could hardly see the fleet anymore with binoculars, but you already had a substantial lead, and by the Cape you were so far offshore and in the sun I could not see any of you anymore. Good luck in the Southern Ocean. Hugh

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  5. Kick ass, Brad.

    Ben Hall

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  6. Deep breaths... tear it up, Brad.
    evan

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  7. Hey Brad, You looked fast at the dock in La Rochelle and fast out on the water.

    There were 8 boats leaving in the Barcelona WR with the type of "Hydro-generator" you have been using. How has that changed for you and do you think it will change the configuration of boats in the future?


    "Bon Vent" as they say... Lyn Hines

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