20.11.2008
Where’s the exit?
It was expected and above all dreaded… and although it’s not in its classic
garb this autumn, the Doldrums has nevertheless been serving up its share of
light airs and the odd squall since last night to the first monohulls in the
Vendée Globe 2008-2009. Still in pole position, the skipper of Gitana Eighty
will therefore have been the first to suffer its effects, and watch
helplessly as his ‘cruising’ speed plummets alarmingly. Behind, Loïck
Peyron’s pursuers aren’t necessarily any better off – even though those
favouring the west like Jean-Pierre Dick seem less hindered – and each of
them are now looking for the way out of this Inter-Tropical Convergence
Zone.
It is worth noting at this point, on 20th November, that the entry into the
Doldrums has led to a real bunching at the head of the fleet. The cushion of
miles the monohull equipped by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild was able to rely
on hasn’t totally melted, instead it is being slowly whittled down. However,
Loïck Peyron doesn’t appear concerned and he made the most of the daily
link-up with the Paris Race HQ to explain the events of the previous night:
“Last night wasn’t very quick, as was the case early this morning… I’m right
in the thick of the calm zones but there are some that are more unfortunate
than me! I’m making headway in stops and starts. Last night I had some rain
squalls but nothing to write home about, just enough to give the boat a
rinse. The Doldrums we’re traversing isn’t quite like it is in the books,
because other than a few patches of black sky, I haven’t yet encountered any
violent flurries of wind. It’s rather smooth and what’s most surprising of
all is the blueness of the sky”. Not a cloud on the horizon then for the
skipper of Gitana Eighty who, despite the current meteorological whims, is
continuing to trace a fine trajectory; a ‘virtually perfect’ strategy which
has earned the admiration of both landlubbers and sailors alike since
leaving Les Sables d’Olonne.
For those who imagined they’d see a total upset in the hierarchy of this
circumnavigation, today’s scenario would seem to suggest otherwise… for the
time being at least! 24 hours after the entry into the Inter-Tropical
Convergence Zone, everyone is making do with whatever the elements throw at
them, starting with the untimely southward shift of this phenomenon. There
is no way the skipper of Gitana Eighty can escape it: “It’s like ducks,
everyone heads south in winter! Ah yes, it’s been shifting southwards since
yesterday and that’s the problem. It’s an uncontrollable situation and you
just have to make do with what you’ve got.” Humour and patience appear to be
the best weapons to battle against the indiscernible!
Today’s communication with the sailors didn’t reveal any great secrets then,
everyone all too aware that they’ll have to await the end of this
‘meteorological fair’ to tot up the points. It’s a status quo right now as
the skippers of the 60 foot Imocas try to hunt down or at least anticipate
the way out. Indeed it was with the typical smile and hint of mischief
synonymous with Loïck Peyron that he answered a question on this matter at
lunchtime: “The way out? I really have no idea! And I think it’s best not to
think too hard about it… it really serves no purpose whatsoever.” The
expected exit shouldn’t be too far away now all the same and, with the
equator taking shape before them, comes the perspective of the tradewinds of
the southern hemisphere, which should see the fleet lengthen its stride
again. “The wind should kick in fairly brutally for everyone at the same
time. It will certainly be more advantageous to be behind at that point! In
fact Mich* has made a meteoric comeback. It’s superb that he’s getting back
into the thick of the action like that, both for him and the appeal of the
race. Watch out though, the Doldrums still lie ahead of him.”
Whilst the head of the fleet await the feel of the SE’ly tradewinds in their
sails, life aboard the monohull in the colours of the LCF Rothschild Group
is still pretty steamy. “It’s 33°C in the shade and the water is still 29°C.
Unfortunately it’s not possible to go for a dip: the boat is sailing too
fast for that and I can’t swim quick enough”. A sailor’s life isn’t all it’s
cracked up to be sometimes…
*Michel Desjoyeaux, forced to return to Les Sables d’Olonne during the first
hours of the race due to electrical issues, has been the author of a superb
comeback amongst the heart of the fleet over recent days.
Ranking on Thursday 20th November – 1600 hours (French time)
1. Gitana Eighty (Loïck Peyron) 21,024 miles from the finish
2. BT (Sébastien Josse) 21.8 miles back
3. Paprec Virbac (Jean-Pierre Dick) 23.7 miles
4. PRB (Vincent Riou) 29.5 miles
5. Brit Air (Armel Le Cléac’h) 389 miles ...
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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