She is almost there, but the journey has been fraught with obstacles for Alexia Barrier in her quest to round Cape Horn. The special weather bulletin was accurate, and the storm continues to linger about 300 nautical miles from the South American tip.
The conditions are not easy for the three skippers approaching Cape Horn. After her retirement, Sam Davies should pass it off-course by the end of the day. Initiatives-Cœur had to face particularly rough conditions from Friday night to Saturday morning with gusts up to 50 knots. However, for Alexia Barrier, who is expected to round the mythical cape this evening or rather Monday morning (at sunrise), the conditions are slightly more favorable. Yet, she hasn’t been spared either: “I’ve had my share these last two weeks with fronts reaching up to 50 knots, the swell… For hours, you keep a tight knot in your stomach. I know the best way to get out quickly is to keep moving. I’m eager to be done with it!” Especially since problems aboard the Maralpine haven’t left her untouched: a torn portside hydrogenerator, satellite antenna issues, desalinator leakage… “I wouldn’t mind stopping for a week in Patagonia to fix everything!” Alexia says all this with a smile because she is prepared, because she knows “she’s part of an extreme race” and she’s giving her best. A fine lesson in resilience.
Yesterday, once more, the local contender faced conditions at the edge of passable: “I encountered strong winds again this week while approaching Cape Horn. Two nights ago, I was still in a strong front with winds from 35 to 50 knots. The sea wasn’t too wild, I faced three to four meter swells. Earning Cape Horn, right? The conditions aren’t very pleasant when you carry a knot in your stomach for hours… But well, I know it’s almost over. I embarked on the most extreme race that exists. I try to reason with myself by keeping a smile!”
That smile has to be maintained until tomorrow, the date of achieving a childhood dream, passing the Tierra del Fuego archipelago which has once again lived up to its name. After that, it’s off to the ascent of the South Atlantic with a few fronts to manage in the first few days before finding more stable and warmer conditions!
