Jonny Malbon

Three weeks today - the Southern Ocean beckons

Just received Jonny’s blog as three weeks at sea approaches. He’s clearly been very busy and is getting more of the measure of the boat every day. The weather in the South Atlantic has been more testing to all the skippers than usual, and the next few days as they head towards the first gate will be very interesting, and will perhaps bring a few surprises in the positions.

“A squally ride” … by skipper Jonny Malbon onboard AOR II

 29th November 2008 0942

POS 21.03S 07.25W

Wind 25 knots from 058

Boat Speed 13 knots

Heading 168

 Well the last 24 hours have been very full on again!  I did a radio interview yesterday morning, and they asked me “are there still lots of squalls around?”  I replied “no, I think the last one of the morning has just passed and I can see some blue sky and cumulus clouds ahead”.  This would have been perfect. However shortly after the interview we parked up (stopped dead in the water) for a couple of hours, and then some huge black angry squall clouds rolled in.

 Very soon we had horizontal rain, and 30 knots of wind.  I started with 1 reef and the jibtop, then 1 reef and the big Solent, then 2 reefs and the big Solent, then 2 reefs and the small Solent!!!  It has been a succession of huge squall lines since the first one broke – the most powerful breeze hit about 20 mins ago recording 34 knots. I just about to go for 3 reefs and the staysail when the breeze moderated to 20 knots, so I have taken the opportunity to pound the keyboard!

 Because there was so much cloud and rain last night the stars couldn’t pierce through, and that coupled with no moon = complete darkness.  “As dark as the inside of a cow” is a phrase commonly used.  It’s really hard to steer with no reference point or horizon, so I was overjoyed to let the pilot do the donkey work.  He has done a great job all night, and I even managed to get some sleep.

 This much breeze has not been forecast on any of the models that I have, except as rainfall.  I hope it moderates further through the day as it is pretty exhausting to say the least. If it does then I have a few jobs that I want to try and tick off. 

 Climb into the bow and check for water

• Change the chafed traveller lines
• Refit the 4^th reef outboard pin
• Remove water from the boat
• Restack the bow and move the code 0 to the middle of the boat
• Eat
• Sleep
• Check the gooseneck fittings
• Drop the jibtop
• Put the jibtop and the Genoa down below

 Apart from that – it is basically a day off!!

 I still seem to be making miles up, although Steve is doing a good job in resisting.  Bernard Stamm is flying along and it will be hard to keep a man of his calibre at bay, but I will do my best.

 Life onboard is good.  I smell a bit, so it’s lucky I am alone.  I can’t believe we are nearly into the 4^th week.  In 7 days a third of the race will be complete.  The time has flown by so far, and I hope it continues to.  I am enjoying it out here at the moment; even last night which was VERY stressful has passed, and is soon forgotten.  It is slightly daunting moving south though.  Very soon I will be deep in the Southern Ocean and barrelling around the bottom of the Earth. 

 Rightio – that’s all for now,

 Cheers, Jonny and Artemis II