Captain's Log

January 07, 2003

Hello all,
 
I have never been on a cruise, as in Cruise Ship with lots of people lining up at the buffet every hour !!, but you often hear over the intercom, when these floating hotels are berthed in Bermuda, statements about this or that activity taking place on the Lido Deck. Sounds like the spot with all the activity. So BTC Velocity's equivalent is just aft the traveller, wedged in by the runners at the very back of the boat. The view from this spot is fantastic. I have just spent the last 45 min with a cup of tea in my hand ( Bermuda is now Britain's largest colony left since Hong Kong went back to the Chinese, so we do tea as well ) watching as my B & G autopilot flawlessly steers from the top of one wave and bravely points us straight down the face of the next in an never ending procession of surfs. Now to those of you who say, ' see he is relaxing too much, should be racing ' I reply, ' yes but the engine is charging right now and the manufacturer says do not operate the engine at an angle of heel more than 15 degrees, so when charging, you have to de power a little '. When it comes to the Solo sailors list of must  have's the ability to generate power and a working autopilot are the most important, so I take as good care as I can of my engine.
 
It really is awesome sailing out here. The sky may be gray, the seas may never deliver a consistent direction causing a never ending  ' bumpy ' ride, but how to compare the feeling of being in the southern ocean. It majestic and powerful, yet demands respect and wariness. It's easy to get into a rhythm down here that although generally positive, you have to shake yourself every now and again and soak up what its like to be in this area where so few sailors venture. Otherwise it will pass all too soon and all you will have left is memories.
 
Time to power back up, remember my finish in Cape Town taking Bayer Acensia almost at the finish, well I looking for a repeat performance of that so watch out Kojiro, I have you in my sights !!!
 
Alan
BTC Velocity