“Wrong-Way” VDH Update–Life in the Southern Ocean: Francis Joyon is back up to speed in IDEC, and should arrive home next week, to claim a blazing new world record. That leaves tough old Jean Luc Van Den Heede almost alone on the round-the-world course (until Fossett and De Kersauson set off in their big multihulls). VDH is still about 2000 miles from rounding the Cape of Good Hope at South Africa’s tip, and all the poor guy can think about is a shower. Here’s a taste of how such a seemingly basic routine can become a singlehanders obsession 83 days into a voyage:

“Yesterday, in a squall I collected a lot of fresh water in the mainsail. I heated it up this morning in my camping shower and was planning to take a nice warm shower this evening…. but the sun only came out for a brief while, and for the moment I’m going through some drizzle worthy of the English Channel, which is a foretaste of the front, which should go over tonight.

I’m going to have to wait a little while longer for the pleasure of what will be my first real shower since Cape Horn. Don’t be alarmed! I’m keeping myself clean with some baby wipes. But it is true, I’m dreaming of a nice shower where I don’t need to worry about how much fresh, warm water I use.”

Well, if VDH has to stay a bit stinky for the moment, at least he can take pleasure from the fact that his lead over existing record holder Philippe Monnet is more than 19 days. On the other hand, he’s still got almost two months of sailing left. The key question, really, is how many pairs of clean underwear does he have left…..



Smelly Day 83 Sailor: Phew, I wouldn’t want to be trailing behind Mr. Baby Wipes…….