Thursday 8th January 2009
LIVE VISIO CONFERENCE WITH THOMAS COVILLE:
“Still a chance of playing for the record”
In a visioconference this Thursday morning, Thomas spent three quarters of
an hour answering questions from internet users and journalists; despite the
fatigue of a night spent in the violent squalls of the Doldrums.
The Maxi Trimaran crossed the equator for the second time in her journey
around the world yesterday, Wednesday 7th January, at 1933 UT, after 50
days, 5 hours and 39 minutes of racing against the clock. Thomas crossed
this final passage mark with a deficit of 2 days, 3 hours and 18 minutes on
Francis Joyon’s time and has made up two and half days on the reference time
since rounding Cape Horn.
Further and faster than Francis
Faster than his adversary since the start – a 19.60 knot average for IDEC
compared with 19.97 for Sodeb'O), Thomas has had to cover 1,450 more miles
in order to get round weather obstacles such as the Saint Helena High
(Francis was able to cut through the middle) as well as the immense ice zone
in the Pacific. These figures perfectly demonstrate the true quality of the
boat Sodeb'O which, aside from a few signs of fatigue, is still racking up
the miles at full bore. This detailed breakdown also pays tribute to the
crazy amount of effort Thomas has put into this race against the clock for
the past few weeks, ignoring his own needs in order to focus on the boat and
speed. However, there is naturally a certain amount of frustration about the
time ticking away and this 588 mile deficit less than a week from the
finish.
The right time at the Azores?
Since last night, Thomas has been traversing the Doldrums and its familiar
squalls and exhausting manœuvres. The Maxi Trimaran is set to link up with
the NE’ly tradewinds shortly, which have stabilised at between 18 and 22
knots and should hence enable her to make rapid headway to the north. At
that point it will be time for Thomas to focus on one of his last charts. A
low moving across from the United States is shifting across to the Azores.
If Sodeb'O manages to climb aboard the train at the right moment, this air
flow could carry him as far as Brest, with the chance of getting within a
few hours of the record time...
Extracts from the radio session recorded with Thomas Coville today:
1/ Catching onto the low at the Azores...
"I am surrounded by some very active squalls. We forecast a less active
Doldrums, but it was reactivated overnight with squalls of over 30 knots.
(...) It’s very complicated for your nerves and on a physical level as you
can capsize in places like these or break a lot of gear. (...) I have to
continue to go fast and keep pedalling as we’re on the home straight now and
I’ve got very little time and very few opportunities to get ahead of Francis
Joyon. If we manage to catch hold of the depression which is passing through
the Azores in four days’ time, we may get a few hours inside the time. If we
don’t manage to catch onto this front which would take us as far as Brest,
we’ll miss out on the record by a couple of hours. It’ll be a close run
thing but after chasing after it all the way around the world, I can’t give
up (...) For the time being the focus is on the gear. I’m at the boat’s
service and I haven’t loosened my grip for a single minute (...)"
2/ More distance covered than Francis Joyon
“I’ve been flat out since the start. Right now it all depends on what
happens at the Azores. I’ve got to ensure I’m at the right place at the
right time. When you realise how much the weather fluctuates in this zone of
high pressure, I have no idea how the record is going to pan out. (...)
We’ve covered a lot more miles than Francis Joyon due to the ice and the
weather, which just goes to show how hard I’ve been pushing. I’m frustrated
about being the weather’s plaything. That’s the nature of records (...).
Francis came out with a great line on his arrival, he said: “nature let me
through”. That really sums up the situation. You have to play with the
weather, respect her and remain humble. Either she’ll let you through or
you’ll suffer her.”
3/ Permanent concentration
"You have to bear in mind that sailing in a multihull requires permanent
attention and concentration due to the constant speed or the rapid
acceleration. The slightest minute of inattention may prove fatal. You have
to be on top of things at every instant and that’s what exhausts you
mentally and physically as you’re at 100% the whole time (...). I haven’t
had time to get away from it. I brought two books along which I haven’t even
touched. (...) I must have listened to music just two or three times though
I love music. I miss music but I can’t cut myself off from the boat; it’s
just not allowed if you want to maintain your speed as well as ensure your
safety.”
4/ Pushing back the limits
"The more time you’ve spent on the water, the more sensations you have. You
feel every wave as if it’s an extension of yourself. These are the
sensations of a sailor, of someone who has spent a lot of time on the water
and who has switched to another world (...). I didn’t think I could push
myself so far, either in terms of my nerves or psychologically. On a
physical level I didn’t think I could push the boat or myself so far either.
In the end it remains an enigma: where is the limit? I believe I’ve
approached it several times (...)”
AUDIO, VIDEO, IMAGES AND CARTOGRAPHY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE press zone on the
site www.sodebo-voile.com
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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