Just a few days to finish this leg, but a lot more to finish the race. This isn’t over until we cross the finish line and many things can happen until then.
As we left the Southern Ocean behind and sailed past the Falklands a sudden gust of over 50 knots caught us by surprise. It was basically a lot of wind, we couldn’t see anything and we were covered up to the teeth. It was only for an hour or so but it seems the Southern Ocean didn’t want to let us go without showing us how powerful and strong it is.
We are sailing north and close reaching, chasing Alvimedica. “One at a time”, as Iker puts it. First them, then Abu Dhabi.
This has been the toughest leg by far, you can tell by people’s faces, hands, eyes. This isn’t easy, and you can’t make it without a strong mind. When you think you can finally relax , 30 knots kick in and the water is spraying on your face again.
We are wet all day, inside the boat it rains condensation and the sleeping bags smell worse than a soaked wet dog. Nevertheless exhaustion helps you forget all of this and switch your body off until the next watch.
It feels colder than in the last few days, probably because we are beating. We start to see boats again, mainly with Chinese and English names on them. No Spanish ones, which surprises me for we are just 250 miles off the Argentinean land, my home. This is one of the hardest things in the race, staying away from your family and beloved ones for such a long time.
You have to grit your teeth and not let emotions rule you, and that’s where your mind plays a really important role.
At times we can see Alvimedica and also Brunel on the AIS. The ones in front are fast and the one behind pushes hard. We are all healthy and in good shape, looking forward to arriving in Itajaí.
#vamosMAPFRE
Fran