VDH Update–Au Revoir, Cape Leeuwin: Jean Luc Van Den Heede is now 74 days into his backward circumnavigation. He’s got an 18 day lead over existing record holder Philippe Monnet, and he recently left Australia’s Cape Leeuwin in his wake. That leaves just the Cape of Good Hope at the bottom of Africa, before he turns north and heads for home. He’s starting to battle little maintenance problems, like holes in his mainsail, and loose bolts on his engine (which he uses to charge his batteries; the prop has been removed). But that’s all normal for a gruelling voyage like this. He’s also got to battle the occasional spell of boredom. Luckily, he’s got the great birds of the Southern Ocean to keep him company:

Apart from the surveillance and maintenance of his aluminum monohull, Jean Luc is amusing himself watching the albatrosses, which are accompanying him. “They watch me go by and seem to be asking themselves who this strange creature is. I can’t stop thinking about a cartoon, Bernard and Bianca, when I see them taking off. They look like a heavy bomber on the runway, it’s really funny. To tell the truth, I’m having fun forcing them to take off.”

C’mon, Jean Luc, leave the damn birds alone….



One More Great Cape….And Then Home (VDH in Red; Monnet in Blue)