GSC – Difficult times around Cape Horn

By Marco Nannini  / Global Solo Challenge
Cape Horn has been the primary focus of attention for quite a few days now in the Global Solo Challenge, starting from the successful rounding by Ronnie Simpson on Friday February 2nd, to a trio of competitors on their approach to the dreaded cape dealing with a deep low pressure system and some serious winds. 

On friday, at approximately 03:30 UTC, in the thick of the night, sailing heavy seas and winds gusting to nearly 60 knots, Ronnie Simpson successfully rounded Cape Horn with Shipyard Brewing, sailing with no mainsail and just the storm jib. The previous day a window of opportunity had opened up for Ronnie and he had to choose whether to wait for the weather system to clear the area or press on in heavy but manageable seas. Ultimately he decided that the conditions were safe enough for the rounding without any evasive action in relation to the cold front that was chasing him. He wisely opted to stay in deep waters off the continental shelf, too far to see the Cabo de Hornos lighthouse or any sign of having approached the south american continent.

On Rounding, however, Ronnie was already focusing on the next deep and windy low pressure. The development of this system, vast in size and with winds up to the 50-70 knots range, was of great concern to all those still in the Pacific. The associated winds were also due to spill over into the Atlantic and bring a heavy northerly blow to the American skipper on his route to the north. Ronnie decided to avoid  the worst which was going to sweep over the Falklands during the course of Sunday with prohibitive conditions. He sailed through the Strait of Le Maire in light conditions on Friday night and kept hugging the Argentinian coast sailing towards the Beagle Channel. When the northerly winds hit, he experienced a manageable sea state and winds gusting up to 40 knots, nothing compared to the nasty weather further east. On Sunday the wind backed to the west and put Ronnie in a position to resume a direct course to the north east.  

The US veteran, sailing under the sponsorship of Shipyard Brewing, is a proud representative of the American Patriot Sailing association. Ronnie has displayed great skill and seamanship during his rounding and in nursing his 1994 Open 50 through difficult seas. After a forced pitstop in Hobart he is acutely aware of the limitations that his vintage boat imposes to ensure a successful completion of the circumnavigation. In a few days the weather should progressively improve and give Ronnie respite so that he can finally celebrate getting safely through south Pacific and Atlantic heavy weather towards warmer and calmer seas. 

In the south Pacific’s screaming fifties, several skippers are now dealing with the heavy forcast that promises difficult seas and heavy winds. We had been monitoring this huge low pressure system for days. The forecast indicates winds up the 50-70 knots range and potentially dangerous sea. The forecast has not gone unnoticed and given there are 3 round-the-world events taking place at the same time, the news was hitting every media outlet. The severity of the forecast is such that Charles Caudrelier, the skipper of the giant Gitana Team trimaran taking part in the Arkea Ultim has had to put his approach to the Horn on pause declaring this is the first time this happens in his entire sailing career. In the Ocean Globe Race the leading boats PenDuick VI and Translated9, which both crossed paths with Andrea Mura on Vento di Sardegna last Thursday, are the two boats that may get closest to the heavy winds that will squeeze by the Chilean coast on February 5th. In the Global Solo Challenge three skippers are monitoring closely the weather: Andrea Mura on Vento di Sardegna, Francois Gouin on Kawan3 Unicancer and Riccardo Tosetto on Obportus. Based on the forecast the situation was more delicate for Andrea Mura who had to decide whether to slow down or keep sailing to stay out of the worst of the winds and waves. Francois Gouin further back may actually not need to slow down to approach the same position. Riccardo Tosetto, further north, was due to be reached by the north westerly band of strong winds with little hope to avoid them. As difficult as it may seem, this type of weather is quite typical and skippers need to adapt and find their safe way through.

During the course of last night (between the 4th and 5th February), Riccardo Tosetto on Obportus reported initially winds around 40 knots and a 5 meter swell which he described as short and with breaking crests. It did not appear to be a worrying situation. A few hours later in the night the Italian skipper wrote again to report a worsening of conditions with bigger seas and several breakers crashing over the cockpit or slapping the boat on the beam. The winds had increased to sustained 50-55 knots and a squall brough by a gust of 70 knots. All seems well on board otherwise and the situation should be improving as the strong winds head towards Cape Horn with Riccardo hopefully finding easier conditions on the back of the low. 

Andrea Mura on Vento di Sardegna and Francois Gouin on Kawan3 Unicancer will not be hit the same way by the system as the heavy winds are heading south east from Riccardo’s position to the north of them and will squash against the Andean mountain range bringin very heavy winds by the tip of the south American continent and blocking the way for an early rounding. Both competitors are sailing forward with the goal of finding themselves at the back of the strongest winds so they can carry on sailing whilst the low will displace east faster than they can reach Cape Horn. Andrea has had to slow down and pace his approach. Had he carried on at full speed he would have reached the thick of the storm, something Andrea wants to avoid. 

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