Conrad Colman and Artemis Offshore Academy member Sam Goodchild led the Class 40 fleet across the start line today at Noon (local time) today for the second 7,000nm leg. The six international teams enjoyed 20-knots of breeze for the start in Table Bay, Cape Town.
Sam Goodchild & Conrad Colman at the start of leg 2 © Global Ocean Race
“We had an exciting start, reaching in 20-knots. However, it was short lived as we sailed under Table Mountain and the wind disappeared,” reported Artemis Offshore Academy sailor Goodchild from onboard after the start. “After sitting in a wind hole for a few hours we finally escaped with BSL and Campagne de France and are now heading south past the Cape of Good Hope into the Southern Ocean.”
Before leaving the dock this morning the Victoria & Alfred Harbourmaster, Steven Bentley, stood-in as the Global Ocean Race fleet’s chaplain, reading from Luke Chapter 8 – a verse advising sailors on a sinking ship that faith in yourself is valuable throughout life.
“I can’t wait to race in this mythical place, the Southern Ocean,” said Goodchild. The Southern Indian Ocean is famed for being one of the toughest seas on planet earth. Cold temperatures, strong winds and large waves will challenge the duos throughout this leg. However they will also be blessed with racing alongside the Albatross, majestic scenery and being in the element for any short-handed sailor.
The Race Committee yesterday relaxed the exclusion zone, which was set at 42S latitude after receiving new weather information regarding the ice flow that the committee feared could pose a danger to the fleet. The new exclusion zone for leg two has been adapted to below 42S from the start until 49E, north of the Crozet Islands, with an additional southern limit south-west of Australia below Cape Leeuwin stretching from 100E to 120E at 45S, pulling the fleet up towards the Australian Bight from the Southern Ocean, permitting a variety of options between the two southern limits. In addition, the GOR fleet has been instructed to leave Kerguelen Island at 49S and 69E to starboard and the Celox Sailing Scoring Gate, stretching north-south at 69E - approximately midway between the African and Australian continents – has been extended south to Kerguelen.
The teams are expecting to complete the 7,000nm leg in roughly four weeks, arriving into Wellington after Christmas. If you have any messages for Sam Goodchild please submit them as a message on the Artemis Offshore Academy Facebook fan page.
Follow Goodchild and Colman here, and stay up-to-date via Facebook and Twitter.
