GOLD COAST 080600ZNOV11 SKED

LAT 36 05.0s
LONG 117 09.0e
DTF 3370nm
ETA 0600 25 Nov 11

WEATHER Wind 240@30 gusting 40, sea 6, swell 240@4m, cloud 6/8 cl, baro
1007.3 steady.

Its been a fantastic 24 hours run for Goldcoast Australia as we rounded
Cape Leeuwin and changed course for the scoring gate en route to Tasmaina.

Goldcoast Australia was sailing more like a submarine than a yacht as we
rounded the virtual mark off Cape Leeuwin, with large and confused sea and
swell resulting in some very exciting sailing.

Since the wind was coming from the west, and we had large swells that were
being amplified by the shallow water off the shelf coming from the south
and north west this resulted in Goldcoast Australia surfing down one wave
and then ploughing into the next head on resulting in a great rush of
water down the deck.

Once we rounded the Cape we were able be bear away resulting in some more
comfortable (but just as exciting) sailing as both swell patterns were now
behind us. As I write Goldcoast has the wind aft of the beam and is
surfing down waves the size of houses at speeds of up to 20kts. The sea
looks wild, but we have blue skys and crew onboard are having a blast.
Sailing does not get more exciting than this and we are loving it!

It looks like there is going to be plenty of this type of sailing to come
too as the next few low pressure systems follow each other through while
the high establishes itself in the bight.