Everyone heads South :(

South has a lot of potential but it is going to be hard work. The wind direction is all over the place unlike the easterly route where it is much more consistent.

The choice is to head South and be on the computer for the next few weeks = divorce. Head East, set delayed commands and take SWMBO out = brownie points.

On the subject of brownie points, has anybody else noticed that they have a very short shelf life? If I put my last remaining point in the fridge will it last longer. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
well, i've just tacked east....

I reckon there will be several 'bridges' appear across to the south over the next week, so keeping an eye on that...... but the south is a HUGE risk..... could pay off handsomely, but could be a nightmare too.... its an extra 1,000nm.... so over a 100 hours with an extra 10kts of boat speed needed...... big gamble
 
I don't really see it as that big a risk. The east is a beat, with a VMG of about 8 in these boats. So only need to get a reasonable run of 18 knot conditions for the south to start paying well....
 
Finally enjoying the race, decided on a course once clear of the w/p (which seems to be a poplar one /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) and now steaming south at a good pace. Still middle in the leader board though...
 
Southern Ocean here I come!

Now cleared the mark and heading south. Lost a bit of time have to beat to the mark from a position well east, but now a can ease off and in the next 6-7 hours I should pick up the wind onto the beam.

I am now 200 odd miles behind my next YBWer, but also about 200 in front of the next behind me, so in the terms of our little fleet i am a bit on my own.

I do feel I have made up a bit of my 36 hour start deficite though...
 
[ QUOTE ]
reasonable run of 18 knot conditions

[/ QUOTE ]

Going for speed now - 18.1 knots. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Another factor to consider when going South is that the chart projection makes the distances from West to East in the Southern Ocean look a lot further than they are. At Cape Town latitude for example, the West/East distance is only around 83% of the same (apparent) distance at the equator (80% if you convert to great circle navigation).This shows up if you use the ruler tool.
 
hee, hee, doing just shy of twenty knots towards the Cape, how are you "sensible" lads doing? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Similar story here - 20.6 knots.

It was very difficult earlier when I was heading <u>away</u> from Cape Town but I could see a big hole developing ahead and some better wind further South. It was just a case of whether I could reach the wind in time.
 
I saw it too,. It was like a valley thorough the mountains which the rest of the competitors have chosen to climb instead. I am just on the side of it, but only just and keeping my fingers crossed that it will last long enough to make the extra mileage worth it.
 
Up to 14 knots now. Had a terrible night dropped to 255 in the rankings, speed was down to 1.2 knots last night when I went to bed. hope to start geting some places back now. I still think South was the way to go. Perhaps I should have followed Dipper and headed South West. Time will tell.
 
But only 142 in front of me, watch your back. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
just gained 3 places since I posted /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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