Donna Lange is over Half-way to Cape Horn

by Jane Pares, NZL and Will Barbeau, USA on 16 Jan 2007

Donna Lange (www.donnalange.com), 45 year old American grandmother of two and mother of four, on her faithful 28ft Southern Cross, Inspired Insanity, has passed the halfway mark (44°S 129°W) to the Horn, but is still chasing the wind!

'I thought the Southern Ocean was all westerlies south of latitude 40°S? There was no pilot chart to suggest the 60°-75°F / 15° - 25°C days at 45°S basking in sunshine with light airs for wind.'

Despite the relatively benign conditions, she has still managed an average of 100 miles a day to carry her 2500 miles in 23 days. 'The weather has been magnificent and the sea the conscious companion I have come to depend upon for life energy.'

This is the second leg in a solo circumnavigation for Donna, which started in Nov 2005 from her home port of Rhode Island in the US. After 168 days alone at sea she arrived in New Zealand in April 2006 and was immediately made to feel incredibly welcome. During the seven months she spent there refitting her boat, she made many new friends and inspired everyone who came in contact with her. When she left on 21 Nov she was very much better prepared than the previous year, thanks to the work of many friends and professionals as well as the generosity of her sponsors. Her communication set up was a dramatic improvement thanks to Global Marine Net (www.globalmarinenet.net) and Xaxero (www.xaxero.com) who installed software for downloading weather faxes, a global tracking system, email capabilities and an iridium phone.

'Every undertaking has with it expectations.' And certainly the first leg of her journey from the US was wrought with unusual conditions - tropical storms in mid December in the North Atlantic, SE winds to 25°S off the Brazilian coast, becalmed for Christmas ‘05 then propelled into Southern Ocean storms after the Cape of Good Hope.

'Beginning the second leg was no exception. I tried very hard to let go of all expectations, knowing how fruitless and frustrating it would be as they proved unworthy of the reality I would find. Yet I still left with imaginations and hopes for this journey - less headwinds, more trades, gales to the Horn and in the approach to New England, lots of marginal sailing in the South Atlantic as I meander north. Fierceness of wind and hugeness of seas are a challenge to meet. To wallow windless is to admit defeat and start searching for new horizons spiritually or philosophically.

I dare not have an expectation for the imminent descent to the Horn. The days becalmed are certainly enough to fire me up to say ‘Bring it on, just blow!' but I know better than to suggest anything and have only respect and trepidation for the potential to be ravaged by what lies to the south and east of me.'

She plans to be conservative with her descent, staying at 46°S until 110°W (the iceberg limit) and then heading to 50°S / 100°W. Current conditions are wonderful - 'I have just come below after several hours on deck basking in the intensity and energy of this sunny gale. Puffy white clouds while the winds build and seas mount. Birds are practicing aeronautical perfection in glee. It’s such a privilege to be here.'

Staying dry and comfortable on deck has been made possible by MTI Adventure Wear, (www.mtiadventurewear.com), who kindly gave Donna several Palm dry suits. Down below it’s '…. a great challenge, as downwind sailing in 10+ foot seas produces an incredible rolling motion . My knees are wedged up against the bed, my back against the other side, sitting on the floor in order to type and not be thrown all over. It’s very difficult to set up the equipment to send emails, as it all wants to hit the floor!'

This first month of relatively easy sailing has given Donna time to physically adjust to the G-forces at sea. She left New Zealand with a sprained ankle and a recuperating lower back injury, but by maintaining a yoga/callisthenic routine she has avoided further injury. Although her ankle is not happy with life on board, vitamins and supplements aimed at rebuilding tissue damage, together with spirulina donated by Lifestream International Ltd, New Zealand, (www.lifestream.co.nz )are working miracles and she feels better than she has in a long time.

'I’m approaching my third Christmas in four years, alone at sea but finally on my way to the Horn. I can’t remember ever leaving shore and going a month at sea with only one gale! Maybe the descent to the Horn will make up for it, maybe not, but I have had time to relish the incredible beauty and power of the sea. The depth of the love in this artesian source of energy and strength fills me with a deep passion to engage in the cause for the environment and all humanity.

My motto has become – ‘Never Never Never Give up Caring’'.

Donna is well equipped to take her environmental message out there as she’s an accomplished singer, songwriter and musician as well as an inspirational speaker. She has adopted several causes along her path and is always seeking new ways to encourage people to reach their full potential.

She is deeply grateful to all those people who have helped her in this great voyage of personal discovery, 'So many thanks to all the powerful people who have and are supported me in millions of ways and who continually send their hopes and love to me across the breeze. I feel them brushing my face and am lifted in my heart. Fairest of winds and love. Only Gratitude.' Capt Donna Lange

Donna is scheduled to round Cape Horn in early January 2007.

Visit her website www.donnalange.com follow her journey & read her daily log, courtesy of Global Marine Net.

We ask you to think about the following message just in from Donna (22 Dec). Consider what you get from following her incredible journey - the pleasure, the insights into your own life - and in the light of the Christmas spirit please think about how you might respond to keep the daily updates coming.
'When I began this leg, I knew I didn’t have enough iridium phone minutes to do emails daily for the entire trip. I am down to 200 mins. I use between 2-5mins a day for email, but will use some on Christmas Day to talk to my family. There is less than a month left in the kitty. Please feel free to donate to the phone fund. My 2 music CD's are available through my website at 20$each. I would really appreciate your help at this time. I have done my best to raise money and do the work myself and with donated hands but at this point the funds are dwindled.'