Thursday 27th December 2007
Press Release 27
SAINT ‘ELLEN’ ACROSS THE ROUTE
The name ‘Saint Helena High’ has never been so fitting in the eyes of Thomas
Coville, such is it currently protecting Ellen MacArthur’s record. The immense
'high pressure zone' stretches right across the whole Southern Atlantic and is
barring the course of the Trimaran Sodeb’O to the Cape of Good Hope and the
Indian Ocean. The skipper has thus resolved to round to the West of the zone of
high pressure, extending his course by around 800 miles, that is close to two
days. Prior to his departure, Thomas recalled that on a record, solely the
conditions for the first few days can be selected and that afterwards it's the
meteorological sequences that set the tone. Here we have a perfect example of
that.
The conflict of love and duty for Thomas and his weather team: To cut through
the zone of high pressure would be to risk being stuck within its centre for
several days. Passing to the East of it would involve tacking off Africa. As a
result Sodeb’O is heading along the Brazilian coast towards Rio, at an average
of over 20 knots. The aim is to maintain a good speed, thanks to downwind
conditions at the edge of the high pressure zone, until Thomas is able to catch
up with the E'ly winds, which are around 36 degrees South in principal. Thomas
is aiming for a depression which is currently making headway in the Pacific,
astern of Idec, the trimaran skippered by Francis Joyon (the latter positioned
less than 1000 miles from Cape Horn). The strategy is complicated for the
skipper of Sodeb’O, who must hit this depression whilst avoiding dropping too
far South, where the ice climbs very high in this region.
Explanations from Thomas Coville: “Saint Helena is the anticyclone which is
protecting Ellen MacArthur’s record. Above all else it’s a system which is
controlling everything in the Southern Atlantic. Today, it has settled itself
right the way across from America to Africa and is stopping me from getting
past. This is forcing me to make my way down the Brazilian coast and cover a lot
more ground. In terms of distance that will represent 700 to 800 miles, that is
nearly two days. Since the start, I’ve known that part of my future would be
down to luck and that I must be capable of accepting it with humility."
Follow the positions, the cartography and the latest news from the Trimaran
Sodeb'O at www.sodebo-voile.com
WEATHER FLASH: “Resolving oneself to going the long way round!”
“Such is the decision taken last night by Thomas Coville. The weather models are
no longer enabling a direct crossing towards the Cape of Good Hope as the Saint
Helena High is not allowing a way through. The upshot of this is that the
Trimaran Sodeb'O must take the long way round, down to the South or even the
SSW. Though the miles left to cover are not enabling the boat to make ground
towards the goal right now, this is the price that has to be paid for getting
the ticket into the Indian Ocean.” Richard Silvani / Météo France.
TODAY’S RADIO SESSION
To listen to and download the radio session with Thomas Coville click on the
following link:
http://www.windreportmedia.com/sailing/sodebo/audio/tc_20072712a_fr_sth2.mp3
The rights free sound from the radio sessions are placed at the disposal of
journalists on simple request to Windreport’ (ISDN lines, MP3 files), or are
downloadable in mpg3 in the press area of the site www.sodebo-voile.com
Audio contact - Windreport': Corentin Duroselle : +33 (0)2 40 84 30 00 / +33
(0)6 63 02 80 71 / cod@windreport.com
ONBOARD VIDEO: “Evening off Brazil aboard Sodeb’O”
Download the video sequence in high definition or .mpeg4 or .flv format in the
press area of the site www.sodebo-voile.com
Contents of the images: From the deck of the Maxi Sodeb'O, Thomas Coville makes
the most of a sunset off Brazil. The skipper explains to us the complicated
weather situation, which he must negotiate and also enjoys his last fresh fruit.
POSITION OF THE TRIMARAN SODEB’O - Thursday 27th December 2007 at 1545 hours
UTC:
Latitude: 19 13.97’ S
Longitude: 30 39.91’ W
Instantaneous speed: 20.80 knots
Instantaneous heading: 223
True wind aboard: Force 5 – ESE
Average speed: 20.6 knots
Average speed over 24 hours: 19.45 knots
Distance over 24 hours: 466.70 miles
Speed since the start: 16.8 knots
Total distance: 24,089 miles
Remaining distance: 20,096.50 miles
Distance in relation to Ellen MacArthur’s record: lead of 588.9 miles, or 1d,
16h, 58mn, 49s
Distance in relation to Francis Joyon’s current attempt: deficit of around 13
hours
|
