Warming up in the van after 35 hrs of paddling. I’m texting the daily message to Karel n the sat phone

The moon set at about 2am, but the stars shone a bit brighter then to make still a bit of lit night. Actually, when the moon was still out, barely any star was to be seen, so bright was its light!

I still didn’t feel comfortable taking my floats off, and continued just to paddle as much to keep me off the cliffs with the wind drift, which felt more like a due southerly during the second half of the night. But it was not strong, around 10 kn. It was ok to make slow, but some progress.

At 3.30am, the first glance of light came up on the horizon in front of me, and at 4am it was light enough to “wake me up” out of my sleepy mode. I dared to take the floats off, felt all right, and not even much tired with my few powernaps. Time for some decent paddling progress!

I called Greg that I’m all right, and all I could do was wishing him a “Happy Birthday” on the phone and send him a virtual kiss. I sent out my position message to Karel at 5am and had 46,5 km left to go. My night’s progress was way less than anticipated, but as I made great progress the previous day I reckoned I’ll still arrive at least before lunch. There were some stronger headwinds forecasted after lunch, and I didn’t feel like I would love to get into them after that long short night.

After my Zytdorp Cliffs paddling night with the “survival mode” I felt way more mentally and physically exhausted than after this relatively easy night…despite the heavy seasickness. But the swell was low, wind moderate and onshore to following, and the moon and starlight made a decent night’s view with a visible horizon. But still I messed up the possible good night’s progress with me not able to prevent becoming seasick!

The “punishment” followed soon, the relatively low headwind all morning breezed up continuously and I had to push hard the last three hours into a 20 kn headwind. The towering cliffs to the left felt more and more like prison walls, but I had no other choice than to keep on plugging! Nobody would get me out here…and I didn’t want anybody to get me out here either.

Greg told me on the radio that landing at Twilight Cove was easy, and that he could drive the van on to the beach with no problem. The track via Eyre Bird observatory was all right. He just felt a bit lonely on his birthday, and I was sorry I was not able to speed up more. I got unavoidably into the strong forecasted headwinds which made me arrive eventually at 3.30 pm.

I landed all right through the moderate shore dumper, which came in quite diagonally. But Greg grabbed my bow toggle and pulled me up and out of the surge safely before I could even pop my spray deck! Time for the birthday kiss…

I felt quite good on jumping out, didn’t have any sore besides two spots on both knees where my constantly driving legs hit the cockpit rim occasionally in an unpadded spot. Plus a bit of sores on the skin above the spray deck tunnel. That was it. Not much dizziness, not like the “out of space” feeling of extremely overtiredness like after the Zytdorp Cliffs.

I stripped my clothes on the beach, washed them and me in the surf, showered with pre-heated water and jumped under the cover in the van with a hot water bottle to heat up again and dry out fully. Nice to have a loving support crew! But I rather would have spoilt Greg today a bit on his birthday than being spoilt…

Greg had cooked a nice dinner, but I didn’t feel like eating at all, being overworked and having eaten quite some snacks today after the vomiting night.

I fell asleep quite soon, happy to be warm, dry and safe again!

Text message from Freya via satellite phone:

32.16 126.01 Twilight Cove 4:30 am to 3:30 p.m. the next day. The  165 kilometers of  Baxter Cliffs is done. I didn’t need the 3 hours of 15 to 20 knot headwinds at the end!

 Text message from Freya via satellite phone:

5:00 a.m. and  46.5 km left. Very slow night with heavy seasickness,  throwing up 5 times, floats out, plenty of powernaps and freezing like hell.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR GREG! And I’m on the water all l night and can’t wake him with a birthday kiss 🙁