Sir Robin Knox-Johnston competing in the Velux 5 Oceans Race aboard the Open 60 Saga Insurance has settled down (and thawed out) after Monday’s dip in the Southern Ocean see previous news story here . He’s currently experiencing light winds which could last for a couple of days which means his latest ETA into Fremantle is between 23-28 December 2006.

Log dateWednesday 6 December 2006
PositionLatitude 44 52.5S, Longitude 018 04.5E
Miles To Fremantle4,411 nm
Average Speed In 24 Hours8.11 knots
Distance in 24 Hours194.8

Lighter winds the last 24 hours so speed has been a bit lower. Not expecting more wind for a day or so and then we get into a better wind stream for a few days. Spent yesterday getting warm after the swim and checking there is no damage to the keel, but don’t seem to have any lasting effects to either me or the keel.

Our lonely voyage continues with just the sea birds for company. It is calm enough for them to settle and we have just passed what, to all intents and purposes, looked like a conference of Albatrosses sitting on the water together. No squid on deck of Saga Insurance this morning, which is a relief. They are not large, about 8 inches or 200mm long, but they dry out leaving a stain on the decks.

The cricket was a disaster and we only have to lose one more match now to lose the ashes. More to the point, if we lose the ashes I have to buy the Agent General for Western Australia in London a lunch at Simpsons in the Strand! Come on guys, win the next three so he has to pay!

RKJ