Thursday, December 18 – In the Indian Ocean
On Tuesday, December 16, as they sailed past Cape Agulhas, the southernmost point of the African continent, the sailors of The Famous Project CIC entered one of the most iconic parts of a round-the-world sailing trip: the Indian Ocean.
And to kick off this hearty main course, they were served up the warm-boiling Agulhas Current, perhaps to give them a taste of the much-feared “Great South.”
This morning, they are speeding out of this unfriendly zone and diving a little further south with each mile, on an efficient route towards Kerguelen. They are also entering a phase of Indian Ocean steamrollers, where violent centered depressions are galloping with remarkable regularity, forcing them to take a very northerly route. The sailors are looking for the best angle and wind strength in the northern part of the depressions.
The maxi trimaran IDEC SPORT and the seven sailors led by Alexia Barrier are now eyeing the next major milestone in their unassisted, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe: Cape Leeuwin at the western tip of Australia. The goal is to sight it on Christmas Eve, a nice gift for the whole crew and especially for the Australian on board, Stacey Jackson.
Excerpt from the article by The Famous Project CIC
Follow the adventure on IDEC SPORT social media and via the comprehensive map =>> https://trimaran-idec.geovoile.com/julesverne/2025/viewer/
Good to know: Cape Leeuwin
Located in the southwest of Australia, it is the meeting point between the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean. The surrounding waters are renowned for their constant swells and strong currents. They are also a prime location for whale watching and albatross sightings.
Word of the day: “The Forties”
An area of strong winds located between the 40th and 50th parallels of latitude south, also known for its gigantic waves, particularly in the southern Indian Ocean.
