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From : Sarah Brice Yacht : Concert Date : Saturday 30th November, 1996 We've passed the River Plate and a quick history lesson and are pressing on south to Cape Horn along the Argentinian coast. Sea temp 10 degrees, so swimming's off. But suncream still in use - are we perhaps being over optimistic? It's getting chilly, which has added a whole new facet to our entertaining routine - what to wear? Scope for endless debate, you can imagine. The deal is that someone from the on-going watch pops their head up through the hatch to assess ambient temperature (ranging from cold, through freeze all your bits off, to stay in your bunk and dream of log fires), wetness, dress code and thermoregulatory status (!) of the guys on deck. There are countless permutations of dress: thermals - thick and thin - , Trax (fleece salopettes and jacket) on top or bottom halves or both. And an equal number of different body temperatures, even if everyone's wearing the same ensemble. I'll pass on making a fashion comment just now, but suffice to say these numbers wouldn't set the Paris catwalk alight this winter. The next question is whether a sail change is in the offing. I don't know why we even bother trying to predict this, things can change so rapidly. But this determines outer layer - foulies or dry suit. Foulies are good for taking the dog for a walk on a drizzly autumn morning in Hollingbourne, but not for swimming around on the foredeck in the Southern Ocean. Dry suits are the business and entail an entertaining rigmarole to get them on, including finding someone to zip you in. And out. A bonding experience already. I should add that even with all the information from this fact- finding mission, it makes little odds what you wear. Working from the basic principle that you are guaranteed to be over or under- dressed, you can then only be pleasantly surprised when your body temperature hits the spot for ten minutes of a watch! The "roaring forties" (south of 40 degrees latitude) have been kind to us so far. We have been spoilt with clear skies almost all the way. Amazing sunrises and sunsets. Last night we had a breathtaking sunset over the starboard bow and the moon rising simultaneously over the stern. Wild. However, it's all set to change. With forecasts of 35 knots of wind on the nose all the way round Cape Horn, life could look a little different in a few days' time. We're looking forward to the Horn, but for me it's with some trepidation. Talk to you next week, as a Cape Horner! Sarah
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