Location: 34° 01.8 S, 06° 13.2 E
Saturday 12:00, 08.19.2006

The Schooner Maggie B was at 34° 01.8S 06° 13.2E at noon on August 19th. We are close hauled on the port tack, getting beaten up a bit in 25 knots of wind and a confused, rough sea. Cape Town is 630 NM on a bearing of 124 degrees magnetic. We are headed 124 degrees at 6.5-7.0 knots. The wind has been backing all morning and is now about 080 magnetic at 20-30. We have a reef in the fore and the main, and the jib is partially furled. We will probably put a second reef in the main after lunch (steak filets wrapped in bacon with garlic butter, mixed vegetables and rice).

A new low is quickly forming just South of us, and is the cause of this rough weather. It (Lucille?) should be our last low before Cape Town and we hope to ride the North side of it like a remora attached to a basking shark. We just hope that it doesn’t turn out to be a tiger shark or hammerhead!

This morning’s surprise was a nice 10″ squid on deck. It was on the high side, so must have jumped six feet to get aboard. Despite having an eye as big and sad as Bambi, it was fried up in butter and delicious.

According to the GRIB files and Commanders, this should be the worst of it, with the wind clocking around to the North, West and then South, all at 20 to 35. We should have a pretty good ride in. Did I mention moderate rain also? You can’t tell if the water on your face is salt of fresh until you taste it. A real foul weather gear test. Fortunately, we are all pretty well suited for the conditions.

All is well.