Captain's Log

March 06, 2003

Hi friends and family,

Well we did it. After 26 days from Tauranga and a hell of a day today, BTC Velocity has rounded Cape Horn as of 8:30 p.m. Bda Time ( 00:30 GMT )

It was definitely a hard day. Wind this morning began at 30 kts and increased all day until around 2 pm it was blowing a solid 45 kts with gusts to 50 kts. This coincided with the depth change that goes from 4000 m to 65 m as you approach the Horn and the waves built up very quickly and were coming from 3 directions. Wave height was approximately 25 feet. BTC Velocity was knocked down 2 times; however, one of those times I was at the mast taking down the main sail as it was blowing a good 50 kts. I heard a roar and all of sudden my world was looking at the water only a few feet from my face and we were horizontal to the surface. Wow. That's a first and quite an experience.

About an hour or so later the front had passed and 25 - 30 kts of wind was remaining. As sunset approached I could just see the outline of Cape Horn, unfortunately the light was not good enough for a photo, but the image will always be in my head.

Thank you Herve and Muriel for the Black Seal Rum and Armanac, I had a swig from both and gave Neptune some too.

This has been a great goal to achieve on the way to the ultimate goal of a solo circumnavigation. To be the first Bermudian to solo the southern oceans and pass the great capes of Good Hope, Leuwin and now Cape Horn is quite an honor. 7,000 nm of hard sailing still remain until we arrive in Newport in mid May, but this day I will always remember.

On a not so good note my friend Derek Hatfield has keel problems as one side piston that controls the keel canting has lost its hydraulic pressure. He has the keel stabilized; however, its not altogether 100 %. I have made the decision to ' slow down ' a little, not difficult for me !! , so that Derek and I do not get separated by any more than the 100 nm or so that we are at present. I have also decided to leave the Falklands to port, in order again we stay closer. These decisions were made by me and not the race committee and I will not request any time redress. It just seem the right thing to do.

Regards,

Alan