 |
8:44 AM Tue 20 Jan 2009 GMT
Has Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) escaped from the Doldrums even before crossing the Equator?
That is the impression we get this morning, with his speed back up to 9.9 knots, but in this unpredictable zone, you cannot jump to any hasty conclusions. The violence of the squalls could still offer some surprises to the clear leader in the sixth Vend?e Globe. 334 miles further south, Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) must be feeling more pleased after regaining 160 miles in 36 hours. At 13.3 knots this morning, he is making the most of the steady trade winds to win back the miles from his rival.
It may not be the Doldrums, but for Samantha Davies (Roxy), to the south of Rio, the effect is the same. Struggling in light winds her average speed over 24 hours has dropped to 6.5 knots. At the same time, Marc Guillemot (Safran), closer to the Brazilian coast has maintained his speed (11.6 knots) meaning that he is now just 35 miles from Sam, whereas 48 hours ago, 250 miles separated them.
The battle is raging too between the Cape Horn Trio, Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar), Dee Caffari, GBR (Aviva) and Arnaud Boissi?res (Akena V?randas) off the Vald?s Peninsula in Argentina.
On his ten-year-old boat, the Frenchman is finding it difficult to keep up with his British rivals. Dee Caffari doing 16.9 knots this morning in spite of the damage to her mainsail has achieved the best performance over 24 hours. Caffari now finds herself just 70 miles behind Thompson and the same distance ahead of the French skipper, and she has been consistently quicker than her compatriot.
After a quick passage towards Cape Horn, a traditionally bumpy and windy first rounding at 2030hrs last night, Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) suffered the transitional slow down as he turns up the Atlantic towards the Maire Straits. But at 0600hrs this morning he had made nearly 100 miles since the lonely rock but, while last night his was pledging to do all he can to catch the trio nearly 1000 miles in front of him, light winds in the South Atlantic may thwart his ambition initially at least.
'I am so happy to be here, happy to have made, happy to all the troubles we had behind us, happy to have got here in one piece.' Said White last night off Cape Horn, 'When I was thinking about it before this was really just a mark of the course I was looking to get to as quickly as possible, but now I am here it is living up to its reputation. I have 43 knots of wind and have seen 58, but it has moderated a little. When you get to the (continental) shelf it was amazing. Just big vertical walls of water. You go up one and just smash straight back into the back of the next one. And when I came to gybe it was the first time that I have gone done the full round up broaching straight upwind and having to let everything off to get the boat back on her feet.'
'And, yes, there is that ominous feeling, it is oppressive and lonely and you can't help but reflect on all those square riggers years and years back. It must have been really incredibly miserable going past here on them, you kind of wonder if it was worth it for a ship load of tea-bags!'
'I guess you probably would feel short changed to be here if it was calm or easy, but I am certainly looking forward to getting round the corner into some flatter water and getting the foot down after them in front. That is the aim and I really want to catch them and I really think I can do it. With a bit of luck they'll be caught in the Doldrums.'
White only started sailing by chance 14 years ago, and only then because he had a towbar on his car. A friend bought a 17 foot plywood Lysander centre-board pocket cruiser and Steve and his wife Kim were coerced to tow their friend's pride and joy to the water. Of course a wheel bearing went on the trip and Steve's mechanical skills saved the day.
They were quickly hooked and soon bought their own little 23 foot Robert Tucker designed Ballerina which Steve refitted to go anywhere. And today he is a Cape Horner.
Sam Davies (Roxy) in her daily message:'Another frustrating 24 hours on Roxy! We are still running into the windless zone and I can see Safran zooming up behind.... DON'T LOOK BEHIND YOU! So I am trying to look forwards to find the way through to the trade winds, as Roxy can't wait to get going fast again! These last days have given me time to check the gear and sails, and as far as I can see, everything is in great shape to get 'sending it' as soon as conditions permit! Today has just been ideal cruising holiday conditions - blue sky, sunshine, turquoise sea, calm, 8 knots of wind, 28deg air and water temp.... just holiday heaven. I wish I could somehow put these conditions into a box and save them for when I'm on holiday! As I write this, Roxy is gliding along under a starry sky with the code 0 doing 5 knots in 4 knots of wind- not bad! I have been growing little bean shoots, as an attempt to have some vitamins and minerals from fresh food, and tonight was the first harvest! I had salad with my dinner. Just delicious. Although I have been taking so much care of my little seeds for the last few days they have almost become my friends as I nurture them and see them grow, so I felt slightly guilty when I ate them this evening.'
Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) in his daily message -January 20. 2009 at 06:50Equator - done and dusted!'That's done and dusted! At 6H14'10' on Tuesday 20th January 2009, Foncia crossed the Equator for the second time in this Vend?e Globe. I don't think I paid the toll on the way down, as there was no one in the booth. This time they made up for it and charged me double!'
0400 HRS GMT. Rankings
1 . Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) at 3266.3 miles to finish
2 . Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) at 334.9 miles from first place
3 . Armel Le Cl?ac'h (Brit Air) at 1022.8 miles from first place
4 . Sam Davies (Roxy) at 1898.4 miles from first place
5 . Marc Guillemot (Safran) at 1933.6 miles from first place
6 . Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) at 2590.5 miles from first place
7 . Dee Caffari (Aviva) at 2659.5 miles from first place
8 . Arnaud Boissi?res (Akena V?randas) at 2707.8 miles from first place
9 . Steve White (Toe in the water) at 3685 miles from first place
10 . Rich Wilson (Great American III) at 5152.9 miles from first place
11 . Rapha?l Dinelli (Fondation Oc?an Vital) at 6877.5 miles from first place
12 . Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport . Kapsch) at 6886.3 miles from first place
RDG . Vincent Riou (PRB). 3rd equal. 30 boats started.
www.vendeeglobe.org
by Vendee Globe media
|
|
Lord Howe Island Windy Point, NSW
Foiling - Wind Wing Foilboards
Kitesurfing - Kites
