Colder
March 26, 2019
Day 173
Noon Position: 49 58S 52 42W
Course(t)/Speed(kts): NE 7
Wind(t/tws): WxS 20
Sea(t/ft): W 4
Sky: Cirrus and Altostratus
10ths Cloud Cover: 6
Bar(mb): 1018, steady
Cabin Temp(f): 50
Water Temp(f): 43
Relative Humidity(%): 84
Sail: Singe reefs in the working jib and main; broad reaching to port
Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good (nm): 143
Miles since departure: 23,628
Avg. Miles/Day: 137
Leg North Days: 6
Leg North Miles: 679
Avg. Miles/Day: 113
It’s colder on this side of South America than the other. Though this statistic isn’t evidenced in the temperature readings of the cabin thermometer, it is clearly corroborated by hands and feet that are only warm when tucked into a down sleeping bag at night. Other data points: I shiver on deck. My nose is drippy. Today I made a cup of tea and unwittingly burned the skin of the hand holding the cup because the hand was too cold to feel how hot the cup had become.
My guess as to the cause is land, or rather, mountains. Our winds are still coming from the west, which means they must pass over the chill Andes to get to us, and the chill rides for free.
I take this as my excuse for not toasting our recent rounding of Cape Horn with champagne. While there’s no bad time for bubbly, it’s just too cold on deck for that right now. I’ve got the bottle out and ready, but let’s get a little northing first.
I have, however, made the traditional, celebratory breakfast. Recall that I eat muesli every morning. So, on “holidays” I’ll make “scrambled” eggs (from dehydrated whole egg powder) and hash browns (also from dehydrated) fried in butter. With ketchup! The only appropriate exclamation for that breakfast after weeks of muesli is WOOF!
Randall – part of the issue is that you have been sailing in a northward current that originates from below Cape Horn carrying colder water north which doesn’t exist on the other side of the Horn. Once you get to 40S you will escape it.
At least the champagne will stay cold too!