Team Adventure round Cape Horn in The Race
by Keith Taylor 2 Mar 2001 07:24 GMT
The 110-foot American catamaran Team Adventure was sailing today in the Atlantic Ocean after rounding Cape Horn, 60 days after starting in The Race of the Millennium.
The big cat reached Cape Horn, southernmost point in her journey around the world, at dusk local time yesterday, according to skipper Cam Lewis, of Lincolnville, ME. Seas and winds were uncharacteristically mild and the nine French and American crewmembers celebrated with champagne and fois gras. Lewis reported about "an epic day" via satellite as the boat sailed to the
north east of the Falkland Islands.
"We are going upwind fast to clear Jason West Cay, the northwestern-most island and reef off the Falklands," he said. "From there it will be fast upwind for a few days in northwest wind as we race up the Argentine coast to the equator and then to Marseille and the finish.
"Yesterday was an epic day as we made our South American landfall about 100 miles west of Cape Horn," Lewis said. "The wind from the west almost vanished, leaving us in sight of an incredible coastline with numerous islands, snow-capped mountains and surrounded by flocks of ducks, albatrosses, petrels and other big birds.
"It was so warm that Philippe Peche took off his shirt and got out his fishing gear. He caught nothing, but hey, if you don't throw in the hook you will never catch anything! We drifted along slowly at between thee and eight knots with all sorts of gear hanging out to dry.
"A big lunch was served and the general mood was excellent. All the team enjoyed the views, and plans were made to come back and attack with skis and other sporting gear. This break came as a respite from the hammering winds and waves that had propelled us eastward across the Pacific.
"There was a bit of anxiety after lunch. We were drifting. We all had hoped to get to the Horn in daylight but time was running out. Sure enough, the sky behind to the west darkened. Soon we were smoking along with the mule, gennaker and full mainsail in flat water in 40 knots of breeze with the
speedo pegged at 30 knots. With the Horn 57 miles away, there was still three hours of daylight left. A reef was prudent, so we put one in, but the speed remained in the high 20s.
"We screamed past Isla Hermite a mile offshore, in a rain squall and soon the mist and rain cleared showing us the outline of Cape Horn, 424 meters high. Clouded in history and mystery, by now the famous Cape was trying to live up to its reputation. We jibed in for a better look and the hope of
getting a few pictures.
"We have some veterans on board. Jacques Vincent was making his fifth rounding, Lionel Lemonchois his third, and Larry Rosenfeld and myself were each making our second. Fred Brousse and Fred Carrere, Randy Smyth, Jean-Yves Bernot and Philippe were on their first passage. Good thing we
paid respect to King Neptune back at the Equator. We snuck by without any mishaps.
"The light was not great. It was gray, raining with a bit of hail and foggy. To the west the sky along the horizon under the clouds turned a fiery red with the outline of the island pointing ominously into the mist. Soon it was dark and we were well on our way to the Straits de la Maire separating Isla Grande De Tierra Del Fuego from Isla de Los Estados, and from there into the South Atlantic.
"The wind shut down and the food appeared. All sorts of French delicacies from fois gras to cassoulet, and from deep in the holds came a good bottle of French red and a bottle of champagne given to us just prior to departure from our friends Bruce and Jane Berriman from Newport RI.
"A small celebration ensued as we drifted along try to gain the Atlantic and pass by the lighthouse made famous in the Jules Verne novel -The Phare du Bout du Monde, or "the lighthouse at the end of the earth." A replica marks the entrance to the harbor in La Rochelle France.
"By dawn we had passed this landmark and soon a fresh nor'wester filled in and we were off like a rocket, refreshed, relieved, well-fed and on a mission to get to warmer weather and crank off some miles towards the finish. With the toughest parts of the race behind us (we hope,) we look forward to a safe sail to Marseille.
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