“Wrong Way” VDH Update–Into the Pacific!: VDH rounded the Horn in style, with the wind behind him. Now he’s rocketing along thanks to a storm system to his north. Most unusual conditions, but it’s his 10th rounding and fourth stab at this record, so maybe he deserves a little luck.

Here’s his report:

“Well we’ve made it. We’re now in the Pacific Ocean. I rounded the Horn this morning at 12 minutes past midnight CET. It took me 32 days, 11 hours and 50 minutes to get down there, which already sets a little record, as I made it in faster time than on my previous attempts.

As I went around it, I was 5 days, 21 hours and 25 mins ahead of the time set by Philippe Monnet. Henceforth, in order to measure my lead, I shall be establishing it in degrees of longitude, as now the aim is to get as far west as possible.

For the moment, I’m zooming along and in the right direction. Since yesterday, I’ve had a steady 35-40 knot wind, but as I am on a beam reach, I’ve lowered the mainsail and am just using the genoese. I even rolled that up a bit before nightfall, as with the seas getting rougher and rougher, we’re starting to slide along on huge surfing waves at up to 30 knots. As a precautionary measure, I therefore brought in a little sail to limit this surfing.

These incredible conditions should last for another 15 hours or so, which is really great!”

Bye-Bye Atlantic: “Shit, now I just have to bash my way into the wind and seas for the next 10,000 miles….”