A rollercoaster ride

Still to the west of the low-pressure system, which is shifting over to the south-east between his group and that of the leaders, Giancarlo Pedote has been contending with some tough conditions that have been mishandling both man and machine since Thursday night. “We’re making really laborious progress. There is between 25 and 30 knots of breeze on a disgusting sea. The boat is slamming constantly. I think it’s the most complicated point since the start of the race. Roll on the time when this low-pressure system has rolled away!”, commented the skipper of the 60-foot IMOCA in the colours of Prysmian Group and Electriciens sans Frontières, who is being tossed around in every direction. It’s a real rollercoaster ride with moist, icy Antarctic air added to the mix, it too drawing deep on his energy  reserves. “I’m keen for this to come to an end so I quickly hook onto more manageable conditions”, added the Florentine, who has some 900 miles to go this Saturday morning before he rounds the famous Cape Horn. The two leaders should make their rounding in the next 12 hours in what are proving to be Dantean conditions with winds gusting up to 60 knots and waves in excess of 7-8 metres. Fortunately, the passage around Tierra del Fuego on Monday night through into Tuesday looks set to be less full-on for Giancarlo.