Category: Alexia Barrier

Sorry, this entry is only available in FR.

Sorry, this entry is only available in FR.

It was 9 p.m. last night when, during a gybe maneuver to round Terceira Island in the Azores, the head of the mainsail on the IDEC SPORT maxi trimaran tore. It should be noted that this same mainsail had already torn in the middle during a similar maneuver yesterday morning, forcing Alexia and her crew to lower the sail to the second reef. They planned to reach Ushant and the finish line in this configuration, which was perfectly suited to the stormy conditions prevailing over the 1,000-odd miles still to be covered. Alas !

They will now have to do without what remained of this sail and sail exclusively under their wing mast (30m2) and their headsails. So it was under sail that they performed a series of gybes during the night to round the island of Ponta Delgada this morning and leave the Azores in their wake, continuing on their way to the Iberian Peninsula. Conditions in the area, on the southern edge of the depression, are as forecast, with winds of over 35 knots strengthening and a sea already well formed with waves of over 6 meters coming from the northwest, which will continue to grow over the next 24 hours. An unfriendly day lies ahead for the crew, who have already spent 55 days at sea, but whose determination to reach Ouessant and complete the loop remains undiminished.

At a slow trot, propelled by their single mast and headsail, Alexia (Barrier), Dee (Caffari), Annemieke (Bes), Rebecca (Gmür Hornell), Deborah (Blair), Molly (LaPointe), Támara (Echegoyen), and Stacey (Jackson) are hammering away at it; they will see Ushant and complete their round-the-world voyage next Monday evening or Tuesday morning. 

Alexia Barrier : “The day is breaking, we haven’t seen the sea yet, and I think that’s better for getting started. We have no sails and are moving at an average speed of over 10 knots with a mast surface area of 30 square meters. We think we’ll be able to unfurl the J3 (staysail) around 11 a.m., once the worst of the sea has passed for the area we’re in. The goal is to stay above 10 knots. Christian (Dumard) has given us a special polar route, without a mainsail. We will keep you informed of the various timings. We are remaining cautious, of course…”

Sailors, who, as everyone knows, love to use colorful expressions, often use the term “knitting” to describe the delicate tack changes necessary to round or negotiate a rapid change in weather systems ahead of their boats. Last night, the women of The Famous Projects CIC successfully navigated around the north side of an active low-pressure system. Without a hitch, precise in their timing and efficient in their trajectories, Alexia (Barrier), Dee (Caffari), Annemieke (Bes), Rebecca (Gmür Hornell), Deborah (Blair), Molly (LaPointe), Támara (Echegoyen), and Stacey (Jackson) used a series of gybes to move from the south wind to the north-northwest flow ahead of this low-pressure center, which will now propel them in a straight line towards the Chilean coast and, in the short term, Cape Horn. 

This morning, they left Point Nemo, the “maritime pole of inaccessibility,” on their port side. This geographical location, situated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, marks the point furthest from any land. They have also passed the precise location where, 27 years ago, the first all-female crew, led by British sailor Tracy Edwards, saw their dreams of a historic round-the-world voyage collapse as their their catamaran Royal & Sun Alliance dismasted. The girls from The Famous Project CIC are now the only female sailors to have come this far in a Jules Verne Trophy race.

There is no glory in this fact, just a reminder of what Dee and Alexia keep hammering home: their presence here is only tolerated, and despite the harsh living conditions and the now omnipresent fatigue, it is at this point in the race that all their indomitable energy is more than ever focused on vigilance and care of the boat.

1 900 miles, or at their current speed, less than four days of sailing, now separate them from the famous Cape Horn, synonymous with a return to the Atlantic and a departure from the land of shadows. Four days of rough and disorderly seas, strong winds, cold, and even snow. But four days of desire, determination, and conviction, to forever mark the history of their sport.

Alexia Barrier

“The Pacific we experiment is very physical. The wind is stronger, sometimes very irregular, with violent gusts of up to 50 knots, and above all a cross sea that shakes constantly. The waves are high, 5 meters, powerful, not always well organized, and the boat moves a lot. It requires constant vigilance, reducing speed, re-accelerating, anticipating.
We are no longer in contemplation, we are in commitment. Although it remains majestic, mystical, hypnotic.
The strategy is quite simple to say, but much more complex to maintain: we have to stay on the right pace.
We must not get trapped by high pressure systems, we must catch the right systems without going too far south, and above all, we must preserve the boat and the crew.
We still have a few very difficult hours ahead of us, then it will calm down as we approach Cape Horn. And then we’ll see. It’s too early to know how it will turn out.
Cape Horn is not conquered by a frontal attack, but by consistency. We are playing the long game.
The movement of the boat is the most difficult thing to deal with. We can equip ourselves for the cold. We can cope with the humidity.
But the constant movement, the acceleration, the shocks, it never stops. The body is always adapting, even at rest. It is as mentally exhausting as it is physically.
Nothing too extravagant for our New Year’s Eve. We ate together, simply, with what we had on hand.
Here, the real celebration is keeping up the pace, keeping the boat moving, and wishing each other a good maneuver rather than a happy new year at the stroke of midnight.
My wish for 2026 is that we continue to be daring. Daring to take on ambitious projects, committed teams, and collective adventures.
And that we take the time to do things right, staying true to who we are, at sea and on land.

It was 14.14 UTC on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, when The Famous Project-CIC’s IDEC SPORT Maxi Trimaran, led by her highly international crew composed of Alexia (Barrier), Dee (Caffari), Annemieke (Bes), Rebecca (Gmür Hornell), Deborah (Blair), Molly (LaPointe), Támara (Echegoyen), and Stacey (Jackson), rounded Cape Horn. It was a historic moment in the long and storied history of ocean racing, as never before had an all-female crew rounded this famous chilean rock in a non-stop multihull race. On their 38th day of sailing and after covering nearly 16,000 miles (25,700 km), the sailors can now begin the final feat of their journey: crossing the vast Atlantic Ocean. More than ever, the colossal challenge dreamed up by Alexia Barrier and her “girls” to complete a non-stop round-the-world race in a maxi multihull is taking shape with every mile covered towards Ushant and Brest.

A relatively mild Pacific
Entering the Pacific at the longitude of Tasmania on December 26, the sailors of The Famous Project-CIC took just under 11 days to reach Cape Horn, then 3 800 miles away. It was a fast crossing, marked by 48 hours of very heavy weather, with hellish seas and waves over 8 meters high, and winds gusting to over 50 knots. The crew, now perfectly attuned to the maneuvers and handling of the maxi trimaran, demonstrated their strength, cohesion, and composure, constantly confronted with a stubborn mainsail hook that sometimes forced them to flee in order to take in or release a reef. It was a trans-Pacific crossing marked by consistency, with the maxi trimaran regularly covering more than 550 miles a day, on a route that was certainly very northern, but efficient and rational, skirting the violent depressions of the far south. Subjected to fatigue, cold, and snow, but always focused on adjustments, anticipation, and the refined piloting of the maxi trimaran, the girls of The Famous Project-CIC have demonstrated the solidarity and constant goodwill that are the hallmarks of a round-the-world race that is now more than ever within their reach.

International milestones
Although the finish line at Ushant is still a long way off and the course is fraught with pitfalls, Cape Horn remains an important milestone in these extreme voyages, still as difficult to round as ever, to the point that few women sailors, solo or in a crew, have ever made it part of a non-stop circumnavigation. Once again, the crew of The Famous Project CIC is the first 100% female crew to round it non-stop from Ushant. Other women, 19 in total, have also achieved this remarkable feat, either solo in the Vendée Globe (13 women), the Barcelona World Race (2) or the Golden Globe Race (2), or in multihulls such as Ellen MacArthur, solo, or Dona Bertarelli as part of a mixed crew. On board The Famous Project- IC, many of them are basking in the glory of this achievement. Dutch sailor Annemieke Bes can now boast of being the first female sailor from the low countries to cross this famous cape, which owes its name to the great Dutch explorer Jacob Le Maire and his hometown of Hoorn, under the conditions described above. Italo-American Molly Lapointe can also claim this first for Italy. As for 25-year-old Briton Deborah “Debs” Blair, she is the third youngest woman after Ellen MacArthur and Violette Dorange to sail in these Antarctic waters.

A third of the race still to go…
Like the Cape of Good Hope, Leeuwin, and Tasmania, Cape Horn is not a milestone. More than 7,000 miles remain, or a third of the race. Everyone on board is fully aware of this, and once the celebrations of passing the famous rock are over, all minds will turn to the passage to State Island, the Falklands, and the reunion with the arbiter of South Atlantic navigation, the Saint Helena High.

Alexia Barrier: “A collective emotion”
“The emotion at Cape Horn is not the same as that experienced in 2021 during the Vendée Globe. It is just as strong, but it is different. During the Vendée Globe, Cape Horn was a very intimate moment, almost solitary, fraught with fatigue, tension, and individual responsibility. I had very bad weather and I was very scared. I cried a lot. Today, the emotion is deeply collective. It is shared. It circulates in the looks, in the silences, in the gestures. It is a cape experienced together, with a close-knit crew, on a boat of exceptional power. Loneliness has given way to an awareness of what we are experiencing.”

“A very exclusive club!”
“Crossing Cape Horn means entering a very exclusive club. Few crews, even fewer female crews, and absolutely no female crews aboard a giant multihull sailing at high speed around the world have ever achieved this. This passage is deeply challenging. It requires extreme preparation, constant vigilance, and total trust between the boat, the crew, and the elements. When you round Cape Horn, you know that the hardest part is behind you. The Southern Seas, with their isolation, coldness, and constant intensity, forge sailors and teams. That doesn’t mean the rest is easy. “

The validation of a solid project
”The North Atlantic in winter can be just as tough, unpredictable, and demanding. But this cape marks a turning point. A stage where you feel that the crew has held on, that the project is solid, and that the adventure has entered a new phase. It is both a liberation and a transition. You feel that something is opening up, that the horizon is changing. For The Famous Project -CIC, this passage is both a symbol and a validation.
That of total commitment, a close-knit international team, and a unique project written by women, at the highest level, in one of the most extreme environments on the planet.

A clement Pacific
“The Pacific was relatively mild, but it would be an understatement to stop there. Above all, it was also demanding. Long fast phases, pressure, cold, humidity, and constant vigilance. More than 48 hours with winds around 40 knots and rough seas, with waves nearly 5 meters high.
These conditions were very challenging, both physically and mentally. These are moments when you can’t cheat: teamwork, preparation, and trust between the sailors make all the difference. Having gone through these difficult phases before tackling Cape Horn reinforces the conviction that the crew is ready for the rest of the race.”

“The crew has matured:» 
The crew is calmer, more composed, more confident. The automatic responses are there. Decisions are made more smoothly. Everyone knows their place, their strengths, their limits, and those of others. There are fewer words, but more understanding. This is the sign of a team that has matured at sea. The crew is stronger, more aligned, more experienced. We have grown together, through effort, endurance, and performance. This is a crew that knows how to endure, adapt, and move forward together, and that has learned to sail faster. »

Rebecca Gmuer Hornell : 
”I was really looking forward to rounding Cape Horn. It’s a bit like the Everest of sailing, an experience that few people have the chance to enjoy, and I’m happy to be able to tick it off my list.
I think I’ve matured as an offshore sailor. I’ve learned to better manage my emotions and my physical condition in difficult conditions.
Staying at sea for so long is in itself a huge challenge and an experience that few people get to have, not to mention the conditions we face on a daily basis.
I’m really happy to check off the Southern Ocean and head north. We consider each cape a new beginning, and Cape Horn is no exception. Now that we’ve passed it, we’re entering a new ocean and facing a new challenge, and we’re getting a little closer to our ultimate goal, which is to reach the end!”

Dee Caffari :
“Every passage is unique and a blessing. I know that when we set out, not all sailors manage to make it through, so when we do, it’s special. I’m lucky that every passage has been very different for me. Solo, in a team, leading a team, with the wind behind us and against us. This time, it’s with a team of remarkable sailors on a very special boat, and it took very little time.
The South was very different from my previous experiences. It wasn’t as hostile, but that said, the sea conditions weren’t always easy. On a maxi trimaran, sea conditions are paramount. This machine is just begging to go fast, so it was crucial to manage it in difficult sea conditions. The other major difference is that this boat has a high freeboard, which makes it feel like you’re further away from the sea and therefore less wet and cold than I remember.
I’m very happy for the rookies on board, they’re thrilled to have reached this important milestone and rightly so, it’s a considerable achievement. The difficulty is that there are still 7,000 miles to go to the finish line and the Atlantic can be cruel. It is important to remain focused and diligent for the last few miles, even if we are sailing them with more confidence and speed.
I think Alexia and I are working well together and have a better command of the boat. I am also aware of a few small changes we could make for greater safety and ease. We are also more confident in the configuration and control of the boat. As is often the case, now that we have covered all these miles, we are better prepared to race at full speed. This trip has been good training, and we will be more experienced and better prepared for the next one when we set off again !”

Did you know?
3.95 billion women on the planet
870 women have reached the summit of Everest
75 women have flown in space
Only 25 women have rounded cap Horn as part of a non stop round the world race.

The eight sailors of The Famous Project CIC have been sailing since last nite at  20 hours and 53 minutes  standing upwards. They crossed the equator on their 48th day at sea and are now sailing in the northern hemisphere. Ahead of them lie the last 3 000 miles of their incredible journey, a full week of tortuous sailing between the Azores high and the North Atlantic lows. « We are truly delighted, happy with our time since Cape Horn, and because the northern hemisphere means we’re heading home… » said Alexia Barrier.

 

Alexia (Barrier), Dee (Caffari), Annemieke (Bes), Rebecca (Gmür Hornell), Deborah (Blair), Molly (LaPointe), Támara (Echegoyen), and Stacey (Jackson) have begun their final sprint, which could see them reach Ouessant and then Brest on Thursday, January 22. The girls can legitimately congratulate themselves on their fast and efficient sailing in the South Atlantic. Having rounded Cape Horn in the middle of the afternoon on January 6, it took them only 9 days, 5 hours and 38 minutes to reach the equator, one of the very best time ever on this leg.

As we have seen since their departure from Brest, the eight sailors of the highly international crew at the helm of IDEC SPORT have continuously improved their mastery of the maxi multihull. They have been able to adapt to the inevitable damages that have slowed their progress, from the capricious hook on the mainsail to their delaminated starboard foil. Positioned far to the west, close to the coast of Brazil, their trajectory should allow them to cross the Doldrums, which proved so troublesome on the outward leg, in a minimum amount of time. This will be followed by a long reach across the east-northeast wind generated by an Azores high, which is currently living up to its name. The smoothness and efficiency of their route to the Bay of Biscay, France, Ushant, and the port of Brest will depend on how far south it shifts.

The eight sailors of The Famous Project CIC completed their journey across the vast Atlantic Ocean today, on this day tuesday December 16th, at 17.00. After 17 days, 2 hours and 20 mn of eventful sailing from Ushant, Alexia (Barrier), Dee (Caffari), Annemieke (Bes), Rebecca (Gmür Hornell), Deborah (Blair), Molly (LaPointe), Támara (Echegoyen), and Stacey (Jackson) crossed the longitude of the famous Cape of Good Hope, the first (before Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn) of the three major landmarks of this round-the-world race. They are now preparing to enter the formidable and feared Indian Ocean, with its 70,560,000 km² of liquid horizons (13.83% of the total surface area of the globe), stretching from Cape Agulhas (a short distance east of the Cape of Good Hope) to the south coast of Tasmania between South West Cape and South East Cape. An entrance punctuated by numerous “tolls” that the crew will have to pay, starting with negotiating the Agulhas Current, which runs against their course and forces them to take a long detour north to avoid the hellish confrontation of the wind and sea. This current generates powerful waves and flows of up to nearly 4 knots. Alexia and her crew, in the absence of favorable conditions for repairs, are deploying all their energy and imagination to navigate and make progress despite the handicap of a blocked mainsail hook.

Alexia Barrier at the Cape of Good Hope :

“This is a very powerful moment for us, it’s our first cape on this round-the-world trip. It’s a symbolic frontier, a frontier where we leave the Atlantic and prepare to enter the Indian Ocean. We know that beyond this cape, everything changes: the sea, the wind, the commitment. We look at it with great respect and we can’t wait. Right now, the main challenge is the weather and sea conditions. We have to deal with strong winds, a cross swell of about 4 meters, and above all, the Agulhas Current. It’s a powerful current, and when the wind blows against it, it creates really rough seas. In a multihull, this is undoubtedly the most demanding and stressful situation: being upwind with crosswinds and cross swells.

So we’re working on several route options. The main idea is to avoid sailing with the current head-on and in too rough seas, perhaps going further north of the Agulhas Current.

There are things to keep an eye on in terms of the weather. That’s obviously done with the routing team. We talk regularly, analyze, compare, and try to anticipate.

The goal is to enter the Indian Ocean in the best possible position. With our hook issue, we are limited. We have to consider what size mainsail to use. We need to know whether to use one reef, a high mainsail, or two reefs… we have to anticipate. But that doesn’t stop us from moving forward and continuing to sail with a smile, of course. Even if, in the last few hours, it hasn’t always been easy to have a clear idea about the choices we’ve made.

We have to continue the adventure. So, we’ve all had to give up a little on speed and our time ambitions. But that’s it, I think we’ve passed that wave.”

 

At the time when Australians open their Christmas presents, due to the time difference, the sailors of the all-female The Famous Project CIC crossed the longitude of Cape Leeuwin at the southwestern tip of the Australian continent at 1:19 p.m. (French time). Alexia (Barrier), Dee (Caffari), Annemieke (Bes), Rebecca (Gmür Hornell), Deborah (Blair), Molly (LaPointe), Támara (Echegoyen), and Stacey (Jackson) thus checked off the second of three major milestones in their round-the-world voyage, after the Cape of Good Hope on December 16 and before the Horn, after 24 days, 22 hours and 39 minutes of sailing since their departure from Ushant.

This was a highly symbolic crossing, especially for the newcomers on board, and was welcomed and appreciated as a real gift at the end of a beautiful and fast week in the Indian Ocean. The IDEC SPORT maxi trimaran demonstrated the full extent of its astonishing seafaring qualities in rough seas and strong northwesterly winds, which enabled Alexia and her “girls” to cover nearly 700 miles in 24 hours at an average speed of over 27 knots.

This cavalcade was briefly interrupted this morning by a huge fishing net caught in the starboard foil of the large multihull. “We went from 30 knots to 5 knots!” said Alexia. “We put the boat in reverse and were able to remove the large net, but the foil remained stuck in the down position for a while. Everything is now back to normal. “

Such is the tumultuous life of adventurers in the Southern Ocean, where euphoria is followed by anxiety, and vice versa. But on this Christmas Eve, it will take more than a fishing net to dampen the enthusiasm of the crew, who are more comfortable than ever at the helm of their giant multihull in the demanding conditions of the Southern Ocean.

Alexia Barrier:

“Leeuwin is a cape that commands respect, even when everything is going well. We know we are far from everything, committed, and that we are no longer playing with margins. Crossing it is both a source of pride and a reminder: we are guests here. So we remain humble, focused, and grateful to be able to pass through.

The Indian Ocean remains the Indian Ocean: demanding, changeable, sometimes harsh. The big difference with my Vendée Globe is the support and the crew. When you’re sailing solo, everything is more mentally demanding, every decision rests on you. Here, we share the analysis, the monitoring, the effort. It allows us to go faster, but it doesnt take away from the complexity of the ocean.

The boat is sound, the crew is becoming more and more precise, and we are in an area where every weather opportunity counts. But we are not forcing things: the record is a possible consequence, not a goal in itself.

Our confidence is growing gradually. We are learning about the boat, the crew’s automatic responses are falling into place, and we are reading the sea better. When everything aligns, the weather, the settings, the energy on board, we can afford to push a little harder without losing our clarity.

The crew is doing well. There is fatigue, of course, but above all, there is real mental strength. The atmosphere remains healthy and committed, with a lot of support between us. We feel that the collective is a real driving force, and that makes all the difference over time.

Our hook failure was a serious incident, but we got it under control. We identified the problem, secured the situation, and adapted our operations accordingly. The boat continues to make good progress, and we remain very vigilant about what lies ahead. At sea, the key is not to avoid all problems, but to know how to manage them.”

Cape Leeuwin according to Annemieke Bes (Netherlands):

“Cape Leeuwin is the stunning, dramatic, and historically significant southwesternmost point of mainland Australia, located in Western Australia, where the mighty Indian and Southern Oceans dramatically meet, marked by mainland Australia’s tallest lighthouse, a vital beacon for ships and a popular tourist spot known for its rugged beauty and whale watching. It is named after the Dutch ship Leeuwin (Lioness) that sighted it in 1622 and is a major landmark.“

Stacey Jackson (Australia)

” I am really proud to be passing the cape Leeuwin line as it’s one step closer to the final goal so being this close to Australia and not stopping is ok for the mission. 

Ticking over the 24th day at sea feels to be a normal routine now. Though some days are better than others I always see it as a privilege to be doing something as cool as the Jules Verne. 

My first time on a big trimaran in the open oceans and it is all I excepted and more. It’s fast and fun and has you always a little bit more concentrated than a monohull yacht. 

I am looking forward to sailing in the pacific however our forecast isn’t looking as nice as it should be right now. Weirdly not a lot of wind rather than too much. But it will be us to Cape Horn. The Everest of sailing. 

The 80th Sydney Hobarth race starts on boxing day without me this year which is sad for me to miss a start. (Stacey has sailed this Australian Classic 19 times!) But I consider this an acceptable excuse to not be on the starting line. I will though be closely following my team mats on Palm Beach 100 and friends on other boats.”

Router, meteorologist, strategist, Christian Dumard is above all a sailing enthusiast. Weather advisor on more than a dozen round the world record attempts, in addition to advising organizers of no less than three Vendée Globes, three Ocean Races, and two Golden Globes, he is, for the girls of The Famous Project CIC, the voice from land that helps Alexia (Barrier), Dee (Caffari), Annemieke (Bes), Rebecca (Gmür Hornell), Deborah (Blair), Molly (LaPointe), Támara (Echegoyen), and Stacey (Jackson) decipher and figure out the best route to sail around the globe aboard a Maxi Trimaran ocean racing boat. As The Famous Project CIC approaches the highly symbolic end of the first Atlantic phase of its Jules Verne Trophy voyage in excellent conditions, Christian sees his respect and admiration for this all-female crew grow with every mile. Given the immensity of the challenge, their humble and cautious approach is proving to be the only way to achieve the ambition of “completing the loop” and becoming the first all-female crew to finish the Jules Verne Trophy with the best possible time.

A reasoned introduction.

As Alexia, Dee, and their ladies finish their second week at sea, several truths become apparent to the observer, giving this extraordinary adventure all its flavor and spice. Never before has this newly assembled crew sailed together for so long aboard IDEC SPORT. Only three of these women have experience in the southern oceans, and none of them on board a maxi multihull. Very few women have ever sailed in a multihull race around the world, and Tracy Edwards and her “girls” on the Royal and Sun Alliance catamaran, which was forced to abandon the race halfway through, naturally come to mind. Dona Bertarelli on Spindrift and Dame Ellen McArthur on the trimaran B&Q Castorama can boast of having completed a round-the-world trip on a multihull. “Entering this Jules Verne Trophy cautiously is simply a matter of common sense at sea,” emphasizes Christian Dumard. “All these women are showing great professionalism and measured caution, which is entirely justified given their limited experience on this type of exceptional boat, the venerable age of this trimaran launched in 2006, and their ambition to finish this race. I greatly admire their ability to strike the right balance and their incredible serenity. This is a round the world race characterized by kindness, a desire to do well, and sharing, in a calm and cheerful atmosphere. They are taking the time to get into their race and to fully appreciate this incredible boat that few sailors have been able to master. They are improving every day, every mile a little more, and are becoming bolder without panicking or overdoing it. They are taking full measure of the boat’s potential, its specific characteristics, and its limits, and are gradually, at their own pace, pushing it further every day. This is a very intelligent approach, which preserves both the crew and the equipment.”

At the table of the greats…

Alexia repeats it over and over again: she and her seven women have invited themselves to the table of the greats, on a Jules Verne Trophy that has only seen immense sailors dare to attempt to claim it, such as Peter Blake, Steve Fossett, Olivier de Kersauzon, Bruno Peyron, Franck Cammas, Thomas Coville, and Francis Joyon… “We are sailing on the shoulders of giants,” Alexia Barrier murmured humbly. Their gradual rise to prominence is the result of careful calculation and thoughtful reflection. “The start was slow,” admits Dumard, “but justified by the rough sea conditions, with 4-5 meter waves in which the girls didn’t want to take any risks. They were right to do so, and they were then able to benefit from a calm trade wind, perfect for continuing their introduction to the race. Admittedly, the doldrums widened as they passed through, causing them to slow down for a whole day. The southeast trade winds were very moderate, allowing the girls to continue learning about the boat and life in a long-term community, and to prepare themselves for the first major challenge of their round the world trip: entering the turbulent waters of the southern hemisphere. A very favorable sequence of events is presenting itself to them as they head for the southern tip of Africa, to be reached in the night between Sunday and Monday, around 16 days after leaving Ouessant.”

Entering the Southern Ocean

This is already a reality for the girls of The Famous Project at the end of their second week, as they enter the southern latitudes, the “land of shadows” from which they will only emerge when they round Cape Horn in three to four weeks’ time. The immediate weather pattern shows signs of divergence, suggesting that the wind will fluctuate in strength. A line of clouds visible on satellite images lies directly in the boat’s path. The gusts under these clouds are described as “not nasty,” but still stronger than the established wind, prompting the utmost vigilance. The approach to the Cape of Good Hope immediately presents a very clear choice of route, between a “normal” route to the south and a “conservative” route to the north. The crew and routers agree to stay north for the next 24 to 48 hours to avoid the “very strong” winds and gusts of over 60 knots further south. The southern option is faster but considered too extreme for a first encounter with a southern depression. The conservative route to the north is preferred in order to avoid high seas, allowing the crew to gradually adjust to these new conditions. It should be noted that the Agulhas Current* must be closely monitored. Situations where the wind is contrary to the current, which would cause dangerous seas, should be avoided.

*The Agulhas Current is a marine current in the Indian Ocean. It takes its name from the South African Cape Agulhas. It flows along the east coast of South Africa, towards the southwest, and is measured at over 4 knots in some places.

How to follow The Famous Project CIC’s record attempt ?

• The official The Famous Project CIC app on iOS and Android (download available)
• The Famous Project CIC tracking map: https://thefamousproject.io/mapster-wp-map/tracking-theboat/
• Website: https://thefamousproject.io/
• The Famous Project CIC on social media: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook
• Daily onboard LIVEs on The Famous Project CIC YouTube channel at 12:00 PM

Sorry, this entry is only available in FR.