GOLD COAST 150600ZSEP11 SKED

Date 15.09.11

LAT 31 55.6S

LONG 031 00.8W

DTR 2502

SKIPPERS BLOG

For the last 24 hours Gold Coast Australia has been going like a freight train. Our southerly position provides us with more

wind at a broader angle allowing us to ease away from the wind in the gusts and maintain an average speed of over 10kts.

South of the fleet our only company consists of seabirds and the occasional pod of dolphin, though this morning we had our

first human encounter since we lost sight of Singapore when a fishing boat appeared on the radar. We passed the fishing

boat within a few miles and I am sure they were wondering what crazy people we are out sailing in the middle of nowhere as

we surfed down the waves with water flying everywhere.

The wind has been blowing from the South West averaging about 30kts and gusting to about 38 which unfortunalty is too windy

for our heavy weight spinnaker. Yesterday we saw 50kts over the deck when a squall hit us. It was the first big squall

most of the people on board had seen, with water being lifted of the tops of waves. Gold Coast Australia handled it well as

we simply bore away and sailed with the wind until the gust had passed, reaching consistent speeds of 15kts which provided

some very exhilarating sailing.

The crew on Gold Coast Australia are hoping our southerly position will give us a large advantage over the rest of the fleet.

Already we have been excited to see our position climb up the leader board as we slowly pick the other boats up one by one.

When the wind begins to back to the south we should really reap the rewards as we can maintain a high speed reach towards

Capetown while the other yachts will have to sail at higher and slower angles into the wind.

Happy days on Gold Coast Australia, its bloody good to be alive! BT