10.02.2001
The latest daily news from Ellen to Dr Krumnacker
Segel.de
* PRB should today finish the Vendee Globe race, smashing the previous
record of a 105 days by an amazing 10 days. Never before has a solo skipper raced non-stop around the world in less than 100 days. Pre-race favourite Michel Desjoyeaux, known as 'The Professor', has earned his win with a near faultless performance, even though his lead has been threatened more than once in the past month by Ellen and 'KINGFISHER". 'Bravo Mich' from Ellen and the Kingfisher Challenges team. PRB was at 117 miles from the finish at 0600 GMT, with Ellen at 392 miles at 0730.
* SILL, 700 miles further back, was recorded an amazing 18 knot average - in sailboat terms that is flying! His race now is to beat his rival Marc Thiercelin, currently 300 miles behind but further to his north and west.
* Other news, GROUP 4 now holding 8th place but stuck in the Doldrums and
AQUITAINE just passing the Falkland Islands - Yves, former co-skipper and 'teacher' of Ellens, sent a message of encouragement to Ellen via email during the night. Together on the Transat Jacques Vabre in 1999 they battled to keep his mast up right across the Atlantic...
Click here for the latest positions
http://www.kingfisher-challenges.com/position/index.shtml
* ETA PRB : This afternoon towards 1500.
* ETA KINGFISHER : Still marginal between Sunday evening and Monday morning... Ellen requires a VMG [Velocity Made Good - the speed towards the finish] of 11.5 knots to make it in time for the tide gate at Les Sables d'Olonne on Sunday evening.
A message of congratulation to Michel Desjoyeaux and Ellen MacArthur from
the three principals at the Franco-British Summit (President Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and Prime Minister Tony Blair);
To Michel Desjoyeaux, Ellen MacArthur
As you near the finishing line, congratulations to you both on a magnificent race. Your courage, determination and skill have been in the best tradition of our two great maritime nations. Our congratulations also to the other competitors.
Au moment ou vous vous approchez de la ligne d'arrivee, nous tenons a vous feliciter tous les deux de cette course superbe. Votre courage, votre determination et votre talent sont dans la droite ligne de nos deux grandes nations maritimes. Nos felicitations aussi aux autres concurrents.
Ellen's parents and brother will be flying out in to the Bay of Biscay tomorrow morning in a Sea King helicopter provided kindly by the Royal Navy...
UPDATE FROM ELLEN EARLY THIS MORNING
Communications sponsored by British Telecom http://www.btopenworld.com
Quite a tiring night, managed to keep the gennaker up all night so the speed has been good. Until a few hours ago the wind direction was very good, and we were making the course to Les Sables, which is what makes me happy right now! Unfortunately since then its switched more to the south west, so although I'm sailing at a good speed of 13 to 15 knots, I'm making only 11 towards the finish line. Its quite nerve-wracking with the gennaker up, and I'm constantly on edge watching the boat, and keep her under control. I look at the repair on the gennaker and pray...I'm actually surprised that it has lasted this long now, it doesn't look too pretty though. 'North Sails, born to survive' - thats what I wrote on it before re-hoisting it after the repair 3 weeks ago!
Seen quite a few more ships, and talked to one last night to check he could see me on radar - which luckily he could! He didn't speak much English, so we didn't get too far!
Its grey and quite cold, but to be honest since the Southern Ocean I haven't really felt the cold. Everything is relative out here.
I'm certainly envious of Mich getting in today - I think as soon one boat finishes there is this horrible feeling for all of us that there is someone in on land, enjoying the comfort and dry, and we're still out here. But my congratulations to Mich, he's sailed a great race, and I'm very happy that we've been able to race against each other right up to near the finish line... Bravo Mich and the shore team of PRB.
I had the weirdest dream last night - we were all doing the Vendee Globe on bicycles! Don't ask me what I'm doing next after this race..
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