The incredible Chilean coastline

Hi everyone
 
Just a 70 miles from Cape Horn now, and sailing downwind past the incredible Chilean coastline. Jagged mountains running along the shore, with two glaciers visible, and many patches of snow.
 
The clouds are equally dramatic with towering squalls sweeping across the peaks and then sunshine in their wake. 30 knots of wind and the darker seas of the continental shelf complete a dramatic picture that I am unlikely to forget for my first solo rounding of the Horn.
 
So I am enjoying today after all the hard work to get here, and in a few hours I should see the distinctive shape of the rock at the end of South America. When I reach it, the sun will have already set, but the moon will be ¾ full and rising behind the land, so that will be spectacular for eye, but not so good for pictures.
 
Unfortunately we all think of the Horn as the end of the big seas and gales, but for me, Dee and Arnaud it is not going to be the case. The biggest storm so far is barrelling across the Pacific to reach Cape Horn at midday Friday. It's going to give very strong winds till well north of the Falklands, so it is unavoidable, unless it decides to calm down of its' own accord. I have been following it for a while and I believe it was the tropical gale that affected JP Dick near New Zealand, and then swung into the roaring forties and joined the procession of depressions. Steve White is getting some strong winds from it now, in its early stages.
 
It's really quite disappointing to have to deal with another big gale, but I just have to get as prepared as possible and try to avoid the worst of the conditions. Unlike the last gale it won’t be downwind. There will be upwind in northerlies at first and then reaching in strong westerlies, so it will be tougher on the boat,  which I don’t like.
 
I am going to do some extra work to the bow repair once in the calmer conditions past the Cape, and also work on my iridium open port communication system that stopped working in the last gale. This allows me to download a lot of useful weather data - with the standard iridium that is remaining, I just get the basic low resolution US model grib file.
 
As I approached the coast I gybed around some islands that were 6 miles out of position relative to what is drawn on the computer chart. Rather scary as these are small, unlit islands, so very dangerous at night. Will let the race committee know for the other competitors.
 
So mixed emotions on BTP, enjoying the spectacular scenery of the end of the world, and of getting close to rounding the Horn, but also apprehensive of the next 3 days. I do want to get through with no more breakages, and then to be able to race properly again up the Atlantic to the finish.
 
Good night everyone, see you in the Atlantic tomorrow!
 
Brian