Day 9 was going ok. Chasing down the frontal low-pressure system and maintaining my lead. I eventually caught it late afternoon. We had expected 40-45knots of wind, and I had prepared accordingly. 2 reefs were in and as wind built I dropped to inner jib, then 3 reefs. The wind built rapidly to 40knots and gusting 45-50. Then rapidly built to 50 gusting a lot more. At this stage (around 1930) I decided to drop the main and then jib and go bare poles until the worse had passed.

The main was first and took quite a battle to get down and tie the head down. Just as I was making my way back to the cockpit to dowse the jib a BIG gust hit, Ideal Stelard bore away and dug in the port bow, it was going pear shaped! I was scrambling uphill to try and get to the cockpit to release the sheet as she tipped over.

I realised that I did not want to be in the cockpit as she went over and ran over the nets and hull to arrive on the aft net on the capsized boat. A scramble around to the emergency access hatch, which allows access to the cabin when inverted, I crawled in and activated the EPIRB emergency beacon. Then opened the grab-emergency box to get the spare satellite phone just a big wave ran trough the boat soaking it and making it inoperable.

I then activated the other EPIRB, so it was obvious that the 1st was not an accidental activation, climbed into my survival suit and started sorting out what was and was not needed. I took the EPIRBS and Lifebelt light and tied them to the dagger board to aid visibility for any rescuers. I then retrieved the Argos beacon from the cockpit and activated its distress function. This took a good hour or so. With everything activated it was a matter of settling down to 'life
inverted'.

What was not needed was jettisoned so only water was surging in the cabin, I then ate and drank some water and climbed up onto the inverted chart table, to start the wait. I decided to aid any rescuers by setting off a large parachute flare on the hour and a smaller Para flare on the half hour. These were fun to set off and great for my moral as they make a very gratifying whoosh as they zip off into the air.

Around 2am I fell asleep and promptly fell off my perch on the chart table. As I looked out of the emergency hatch I saw a ships lights. I immediately set off a parachute flare or two, got together my personal affects and set off handheld flares as they manoeuvred in to the rescue.

The first pass was very close but not quite enough, the second was a near miss and in a brilliant display of seamanship the captain put the 'Carmen' (of the Wallenius line) right alongside, I was able to pass a line for my effects, say my goodbyes to Ideal Stelrad and casually step up onto the pilot boarding ladder. Boy was I pleased to be welcomed by the 3rd mate and the captain.

A shower, a drink and a phone call home were all undertaken before getting my head down for some sleep. I am now bound for Santander (N Spain) and expect to arrive Sunday 12th so should be back in Newcastle next week.

Can I thank all those who have been in contact either directly or
indirectly for their concern - but sorry, ya don't get rid of me that easily :-)

Ross