08.05.2008
Gitana 13 bound for China
Having already racked up two fine records – La Route de l’Or, between New
York and San Francisco via Cape Horn, and the North Pacific Crossing,
between San Francisco and Yokohama – the crew of Gitana Team are today
beginning a five leg tour of Asia: on the programme are over 2,500 miles
between Yokohama (Japan), Dalian, Qingdao (China), Taipei (Taiwan), Hong
Kong and Macao, with a few days sailing on zone in each city.
Virtually a month to the day after its arrival in Yokohama in Japan, the
maxi-catamaran in the colours of the LCF Rothschild Group has set sail for
Dalian, the first of two Chinese stopovers for Lionel Lemonchois’ crew.
Gitana 13 crossed the start line, situated in Tokyo Bay, this Thursday at
05h55’45’’UT and, according to the latest weather forecasts from Sylvain
Mondon (Météo France), is set to make Dalian in around four days: “Gitana
13’s departure is set to take place in rather light upwind conditions.
However, Lionel Lemonchois and his crew will hit some steady downwind
conditions (20-25 knot NE’ly), level with Osaka Bay. They will remain in
this system after rounding Cape Sata, to the extreme SW of Japan, in order
to make the climb towards Korea. Forced to tackle the Kuro-Shivo (the second
greatest marine current in the world, which runs along the Japanese coast),
they will be subject to short seas which will build progressively. A zone of
high pressure positioned at the entrance to the Yellow Sea, may cause Gitana
13’s progress to slow.”
As ever, just hours before the departure, Lionel Lemonchois was unable to
conceal his impatience at regaining the open ocean and discovering new
horizons: “We have been in Japan for nearly a month and we are all very
happy to take to the sea again… You can’t change the way you are (laughs)!
This is my first voyage to China and to discover such a country by arriving
via the sea is all the more appealing given the kind of sailor I am. In
terms of weather, the 1,300 miles that lie ahead promise to be very
interesting as we’ve already born witness - the systems evolve very quickly
in this area of the world. This naturally requires a great deal of
responsiveness, but it also makes the game a lot more exciting.”
In 2006, the English navigator, Ellen MacArthur, and her crew sailed this
same course aboard their trimaran B&Q (23 metres) in a little over 7 days.
The crew of Gitana 13 between Yokohama and Dalian
Lionel Lemonchois (Skipper / helmsman / watch leader)
Ludovic Aglaor (helmsman/ watch leader)
Jean-Baptiste Levaillant (helmsman/ watch leader)
Olivier Wroczynski (trimmer /computer manager)
Nicolas Raynaud (trimmer / video manager)
Antoine Mermod (trimmer)
David Boileau (N0.2 / trimmer/ head of deck fittings)
Léopold Lucet (N0.1 /head of supplies and medical needs)
Gitana 13’s records
North Pacific Crossing (San Francisco – Yokohama): in 11 days 12 minutes 55
seconds (April 2008)
Route de l’Or (New York – San Francisco, via Cape Horn): in 43 days 3
minutes 18 seconds (February 2008)
Find all the latest about the Gitana Team at HYPERLINK
"http://pull.xmr3.com/p/686-100734-27C8/1181258/http-www.gitana-team.com-.ht
ml"www.gitana-team.com
Rights free photos and images for press use are available on request
Photo credits: Yvan Zedda / Gitana SA
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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