GOLD COAST 120600ZOCT11 SKED

LAT 44 40.0S
LONG 039 59.0E
DTR 3595
ETA 1200 28 OCT 11

A very chilly but beautiful morning on Goldcoast Australia as we continue
to make our way towards the south east in the southern ocean searching for
better winds and better speeds to Geraldton Australia.

This morning the temperature on deck dropped as low as 7 degrees
Centigrade making for chilly conditions. Our three watch system has now
been reduced even more as each watch sends crew below on a rotational
basis to warm up. This ensures nobody will suffer frostbite or
hypothermia in such cold conditions and makes life in the southern ocean a
lot more bearable. Warm porridge and hot tea for breakfast has never been
so amazing.

One would think that being so far away from land there would be no birds
however the bird life down here is just amazing. Hundreds of cape petrel
birds constantly surround the boat in massive flocks as they migrate south
for the summer. Numerous Albatross of varied species effortlessly glide
around us in a display of dominance for the air of the southern ocean.

Whist the sea is slightly confused, a large domminant swell approaches us
from the South West. It would be nice to have the speed to be able to
surf down them as it would be an incredible rush. The smaller waves we do
surf however, and while our bowman Lisa Blair was up the mast repairing a
halyard we surfed up to 20 kts which could possibley set a new up mast
speed record for Clipper.

Apart from the chill in the air everybody remains very excited about our
location and speed that we are making towards Western Australia.BT