Our luck ran out with the weather over the last couple of days, as a gale is developing around a deep low off the Cape, creating waves and wind which are opposing the current. We've adopted a conservative stance and have been sailing with double and triple reefed headsail alone over the last 24 hours, with 35kts of true wind and 12 ft seas, keeping our speed down and the ride as comfortable as we can for the boat and crew. The gale should pass well south of us heading east, but will provide lots of wind and waves. We're taking a northerly course with an arc up through the Mozambique Channel to try to give it some distance and to enter the Agulhas current where it is least strong and organized. Everyone is doing well aboard and NEXUS is a strong boat so we're all feeling confident but not looking forward to the ride over the next three days or so. We're keeping in touch with the fleet on the SSB, and occasional VHF traffic and monitoring the weather on the net, and we're as prepared as we can be. Sometimes you just have to sail the ocean at hand! All is well.