The eight sailors of The Famous Project CIC rounded the Cape of Good Hope on Tuesday, December 16, at 17:00 in their Jules Verne Trophy bid. The milestone came after 17 days, two hours and 20 minutes at sea from Ushant.
Alexia Barrier and her all-female crew crossed the longitude of the famous cape, the first of three major capes in their round-the-world race. Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn are still to come.
The crew includes Dee Caffari, Annemieke Bes, Rebecca Gmür Hornell, Deborah Blair, Molly LaPointe, Támara Echegoyen and Stacey Jackson.
Rounding the Cape marks the end of the Atlantic passage and the approach to the Indian Ocean. The next stage brings some of the most demanding waters on the planet.
The Indian Ocean covers more than 70 million square kilometres. The route stretches from Cape Agulhas to the southern coast of Tasmania.
One of the first challenges is the Agulhas Current, which runs against the sailors’ course. The current can reach nearly four knots and is known for creating steep, dangerous seas when opposed by wind.
To avoid the worst conditions, the crew is considering a northerly diversion. Route planning is being carried out in close coordination with the shore team.
Progress is also affected by a technical issue. A blocked mainsail hook limits sail options and requires careful management in heavy weather.
Speaking as the team passed the Cape, skipper Alexia Barrier said: “It’s a very powerful moment for us. It’s our first cape on this round-the-world trip.”
“It’s a symbolic frontier where we leave the Atlantic and prepare to enter the Indian Ocean,” she said. “Beyond this cape, everything changes: the sea, the wind, the commitment.”
Barrier added that conditions were already demanding. “We have strong winds, a cross swell of about four metres and, above all, the Agulhas Current,” she said.
“With our hook issue, we are limited, so we have to anticipate sail choices,” Barrier said. “That doesn’t stop us from moving forward.”
The crew has accepted a reduction in speed to prioritise safety. “We have to continue the adventure,” Barrier said. “I think we’ve passed that wave.”
