Day 1

Left the V & A (Victoria and Alfred not Albert – strange!) marina at midday with a blue sky and brilliant sun – something we had become accustomed to over the last couple of months.  Once out into Table Bay, we had to motor sail for about 2 hours until we picked up a good breeze. With flat seas and a beam reach with around 15 – 20 knots of wind we had a great start.

By late afternoon (just before dinner time!) we put a reef in the main as the wind and waves had started to pick up – preparing our dinner was a bit of a challenge!  With the seas at around 2m and wind of around 20 – 25 knots we had a bit of a boisterous first night.  Early in the morning the wind got up to around 30 knots and more from behind and the seas about 3m.  Washing machine conditions!  Fortunately we had put the pole out before the seas got up the evening before so we were able to goose wing the genoa without too much hassle.  At the same time we put more reefs in the main.  So we’re currently trucking along at around 8 – 9 knots.

Date and time: 20 January 12.00

24 hour distance:  212nm

Position: S31:44:029 E015:06:996