Date28 March 2006
PositionS39° 3’/E39° 30′

Today did nothing to help my progress. I waited for the front to pass through which it eventually did with torrential rain around lunchtime. The wind then died and I have spent the rest of the day ensnared in the grip of the centre of the low-pressure cell I was hoping to pass.

There has been very little wind and with that it has been very fickle in direction, making it a difficult decision as to which tack was better. If I tacked the sails to be ready for the southerly winds on the far side of the low we ended up travelling east in the adverse current that was between two and three knots in our current location or we could stay on starboard tack and be lucky to make west of south as we tried to move at all. It was basically a frustrating day that resulted in very little movement in the right direction and lots of tacking and effort for very little return.

The sea temperature reached just over 20 degrees today and again the air temperature was warm despite the cloud cover hiding the existence of a sun of any kind. With the sea temperature being so much higher it has helped raise the temperature onboard below decks. It is now good to be in conditions that do not put spray across the deck so we can open some hatches to allow the air to circulate. With these higher temperatures I have again been able to wear my shorts for the majority of the day and it feels good. Even the rain associated with the front was warmer than recent rain endured, another sign we are heading in the right direction.

I spoke to the shore team today and they reported cold wet and blustery conditions outside their window that made me feel better for being where I was rather than with them. Now that is the first time that has happened in the three months of the Southern Ocean I suspect.

Dee and Aviva