Friday 21st November 2008
A furious pace for the maxi trimaran Sodeb'O
A totally calm skipper
Brest - Canaries in three days
It's gone quickly, very quickly for Sodeb'O, which has left over 1,400 miles
in her wake since setting out from Brest last Tuesday (1354 GMT). The week
isn't yet over but already the maxi trimaran is sailing along the latitude
of the Canaries and since 0430 hrs this morning, her average speed over 24
hours has exceeded 23 knots, which perfectly demonstrates the gigantic
tradewind glide Thomas Coville is currently performing.
The skipper of Sodeb'O has had to readapt to what is a very special daily
routine sailing his multihull single-handed: getting used to the boat's
motion, its speed and the noises, as well as seeking to handle the permanent
physical exercise combined with the nagging stress. "It's gone very quickly!
It took me some time to get into a rhythm after the start. The first nights
were difficult in the Bay of Biscay. I couldn't get it into my head that
"that's it, we're off on the round the world". It was a strange feeling. I
was preoccupied with the shipping and the sea state, with the added concern
of damaging the boat. I have no technical issues though and everything's
going to plan perfectly. When you're going so fast and everything's going so
well, you tackle things very calmly".
Racing along in the squalls
Since shifting across to the west in three gybes over the first two days,
Thomas is now plunging southwards at over 25 knots. "It's a pure glide in an
atmosphere where the ambient temperature regularly increases beneath the
very low, grey clouds. There have been a lot of squalls since last night
with gusts of over 35 knots". Sodeb'O is currently sailing under large
gennaker and full mainsail; the maximum sail area she can carry, namely 620
m2.
"We're going fast and the conditions are very demanding. The slightest error
would be fatal and my vigilance must be flawless. I haven't had any scares
and I'm remaining totally in phase with both the boat and the weather"
explains Thomas, who has managed to get six hours of shut-eye over the past
three days. "It's the sleep I've missed the most since the start and I'm
only just beginning to take care of myself now" admitted the skipper, not
forgetting that his challenge is not just a technical one. Indeed he must
also be able to handle this pace for nearly two months.
How many miles today?
The pace isn't proving very gentle for the sailor but this is the rhythm he
has to maintain to stand a chance of competing with Francis Joyon's
performance, who set a blistering pace during this section of the course.
Indeed the skipper of IDEC had his foot to the floor and shattered all the
speedos with a time of 6 days, 16 hours and 58 minutes to the equator.
Today, Friday, Sodeb'O has an 88 mile lead over the record holder but rather
than staying focused on Francis' performance, Thomas has opted, along with
his team, to set himself an objective of miles to cover the next day and for
the time being he's fulfilled his contract! "It's a way of taking things as
they come and to concentrate on getting the boat making headway above all
else."
Sodeb'O's routers are still watching the small low level with the Cape Verde
archipelago. The wind and the pace are set to ease but this is in no way a
real concern.
Cartography, sound and images about the Trimaran Sodeb'O available at
www.sodebo-voile.com
Translated by Kate Jennings - Expression
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