Location: 34° 38.4 S, 09° 49.6 E
Sunday 12:00, 08.20.2006

Schooner Maggie B was at 34° 38.4S 009° 49.6E at noon on August 20. We had our first Strong Gale, Beaufort 9, last night. Winds to 44 knots. We ran “Lucille” a bit close. Probably the first inkling was at 1730, about sunset, when the 1″ high-tech Fore sheet parted in only 25 knots wind with the sail with one reef. We quickly secured things, and Lieve remarked, “Cape Town comes with a price.”

We had been happy at 2100 with the barometer at 1015 and the wind about on our beam at 30 knots. We were running along with two reefs in the main, one in the fore and about 1/2 jib. The centerboard was 1/2 way down to help with stability in the confused sea. The second clue came about 2130 when the Maggie B jumped off a large wave and the impact on the centerboard burst one of the hydraulic lines. The centerboard was wedged down with a handy 2 by 4.

By 2230 the sea was becoming large and confused and the watch was called to take in the fore, which was done quickly and efficiently. The jib was further reduced to the size of two overcoats. By midnight the barometer was down only to 1010, with the wind steady from the north at 30. By 0100 the barometer dropped to 1005 and the wind peaked up to 44 knots. The Maggie B swam fine over the very confused sea with its double reefed main and scrap of a jib. Sail area was about 1/4 full sail.

By noon we were back on course, close hauled on port tack (again…) with the wind from 045 at 15, doing 8.3 knots directly for Cape Town, which is 448 NM away. We are drying out the cabin and our foulies. We did 185 NM in the last 24 hours and 3418 since Salvador. We actually are holding a little South of Cape Town to be ready for a strong SE’erly in two days.

We hope to arrive by sunset on the 23rd, so that we can find the Belgian Brew Pub in Cape Town, to celebrate Lieve’s 27th birthday with lots of different Belgian beers!

All is well.