Friday 10th December 2010
Leaving this year was definitely much harder than last year. The two hour goodbye ceremony on the quay was long enough. The final song of "It's Time to say Goodbye" was fitting and made me smile in memory of last year's "Titanic" choice.
We are in beautifully calm weather. All energy is being sucked into a very strong low pressure system just south of us. We are hoping it dissipates before we reach it.
Sailing out of Cape Town was distinctly deja vu, though, the receding silhouette of Table Mountain was abruptly cut off as we disappeared below deck to start working. Night shift is currently beautiful, with clear skys and stars that I have never seen before.
The stormy petrels and the sooty albatrosses are slowingly swooping around us with increasing frequency as they come to investigate the Lady-in-Red once again.
These first few days have been hectic as we run from one side to the other of initial problems. But the sun rises, my eyes close and I bid you adieu.
