We cleared Tasmania then " turned right ". We ploughed further and further south, making a great circle course for the Kerguelen Islands ( 1st waypoint ) some 3000 miles away. Unlike the trip down from Rio, the sea temperature became cold very quickly and we were hit by a series of depressions bringing storms. Within a week of leaving Sydney the water temperature was down to 4C and we were deep in Bullimore country.

Forget all I said about the Southern Ocean on the Cape Horn leg. This time around they were in a different league. Officially, we had five storms and four gales ( winds in excess of 50 knots ). In practice we found a storm came through about every 48 hours. If it wasn't blowing a gale today, then it would be tomorrow. REALLY, REALLY HARD WORK !

The weather patterns were predictable.

Winds would be quite light, 15-20 knots and the barometer would be plummeting. There would be an instantaneous step jump in wind strength to 25-35 knots requiring a prompt sail change from the Yankee No1 to No2 and a reef. We were overpowered. Cold solid water would be coming over the bow making life difficult on the foredeck. Sails and crew being continuously washed down the deck.

On the second leg the Yankee No2 was the most used sail. On this leg it was merely a transition sail. It only seemed to be up for moments before the wind strength had increased to 35-40 knots, requiring a second reef and the Yankee No3.

At this wind strength, the seas would be steep and building. There would be plenty of water coming over the decks. The guardrails on the leeward side of the boat would disappear under waves. The boat would start to crash. There was " air-time " on the foredeck.

Above 40 knots things started to get hairy on deck. The third reef would go in, the seas will have built. the tops of the waves would be foaming and angry. The waves would be screaming into the boat. They were BIG, but it's difficult to judge the size, perhaps 10 metres. When the boat reached the top of the wave, you'd have a fantastic view of the seascape. It was like being on top of a hill, you could see the waves and troughs for miles around. Many waves did not have backs. If they didn't, or the helm judged the wave poorly then the boat crashed over the top and into freefall.

You could sense this coming - you held on, wedged and braced yourself and then CRASH ... continuously bone jarring.

Above 40 knots we changed the Staysail for the bright orange, heavy duty Storm Staysail. This was the most frightening sail change, there was inevitably large amounts of water coming over the decks, including breaking waves. Working at the inner forestay, there was very little protection and little to hold onto. You were working with your back to the seas. The Bowmans job was the most difficult. A cricket box would have been a very useful piece of safety equipment for working astride the inner forestay.

And then the Gales.

Sometimes the winds would peak at 45 knots. We would ride out the storm " snugged down " with the No3, Storm Staysail and 3 reefs. At other times the winds and the seas would continue to build. Above 50 knots and we were into a full-blown gale. At this point we started taking down sails.

Taking down and removing the No3 in 50 knot plus was horribly frightening, especially at night. You charged up to the foredeck, all pumped up to drop and remove the sail as quickly as possible. You were completely at the mercy of the seas.

Above 60 - 70 knots was ridiculous. You couldn't hear someone shouting next to you. The crashing of the boat was HUGE. We were only there a couple of times, thank heavens. The only course of action was to hove to and drop the main.

If you want the numbers, we saw 78 knots, off the end of the Beaufort Scale.

HURRICANE FORCE !!!!!