We had a good rest in Auckland and a Christmas break, then in the New Year, back to work and preparing for the Big One, we were about to round the elusive Cape Horn! There were a few nerves before leaving, that’s for sure.
We really enjoyed the start line and had a good line out of Waitematā Bay but then it all went wrong – we headed south when most of the fleet headed east. We lost some time but managed to catch up and overtake some of the fleet once we realised east was the better option.
We had plenty of bird life, more marine life than we’d seen on previous legs and of course the the majestic Albatross, huge but elegant. The seas built as we got further east, heading towards Point Nemo and beyond.
Out of the gloom we spotted land, Chile and then hours later, the rock herself, Cape Horn. We were effectively sailing around the world for an experience that lasted just hours, but it was so worth it. We had ideal conditions, huge following seas in 45-50 knots, dolphins with us that morning, an albatross circling us and we passed the Horn in daylight. It was absolutely electrifying for all of us – it’s what the whole race was driven by and we’d made it. We turned the corner, had a chat with the lighthouse keeper and the seas finally calmed – homeward bound! 2 years in the preparing, 5 months in the sailing.
The arrival in Punta del Este, Uruguay was one of elation and sheer exhaustion. Some were suffering physically, the main complaint being tennis elbow with all the tough helming and some had lost a lot of weight with the whole leg being pretty full on, but it was still the best.