January 17, 2001 - 4:19:20 PM]
Golding coming up fast
Mike Golding reports today that all is still going well aboard
Team Group 4 - the weather conditions are still very
unpleasant with poor visibility and a "nasty chop". Making this
miserable sailing bearable is the consistently better speed
that Golding has indextained over the boats around him. He is
currently doing 14 - 15 knots with the traveller out almost to
the end of the track. He is roughly 1-2 knots faster than
Gallay, Carpentier and Hall, and is closing on them all the
time. He should overtake Gallay and move into 10th place on
the water late tonight or early tomorrow morning.
To move into the top ten after re-starting the Vendée Globe 8
days and 4 hours behind the rest of the fleet is no small
achievement and will be quite a moment for Golding.
Overnight Golding sent a report to his shore team, the
following is an extract:
"...all is well on board, (we are) making good time.
Considering all the problems the boat, sails, rigging, etc has
stood up pretty well. The mast looks pretty good. I will need
to do some more tweaking with the rig when I reach the
Atlantic, but so far, so good, it all seems to be hanging
together".
Source: MPR
[January 17, 2001 - 3:52:30 PM]
Kingfisher cuts PRB’s lead in half and Parlier restarts - analysis
by Philippe Jeantot
At the front end of the Vendée Globe, the Saint Helen
anticyclone is still misbehaving. Leader Michel Desjoyeaux
(PRB) is battling against his new enemy, this high pressure
bubble, which is blocking his route and moving North at the
same speed as he is sailing. With a weak Northerly breeze,
not only has he been squeezing out just 6 – 7 knots over the
last 12 hours, but also has had to head tighter upwind 50
degrees from the direct route.
On the other hand, the next three boats have encountered
slightly better winds in force and direction. All the top six
skippers are still striving realistically to make it onto the
podium, and the old adage that "A race is never won until the
boats cross the finish line" can still apply to this planetary
circumnavigation. The Southern Oceans now in their distant
wake, the Horn in their rear mirrors, and this Atlantic regatta is
firing up to the great appetite of the fleet. The comfortable
600 plus mile advance Desjoyeaux pushed out through the
Pacific Ocean has halved in a matter of a few days.
Ellen MacArthur (Kingfisher) has succeeded, by alone heading
East of the Falkland Islands, in coming back to within 350
miles of PRB. She has consistently been sailing around three
knots faster and should continue to profit from relatively more
stable conditions for several hours to come. She was guarded
about her achievement though: "It’s been a struggle. We
certainly are not yet in a stable weather pattern. The forecasts
are subtly changing daily." Stress is enemy number two as the
fleet head into the fickle winds associated with the Saint Helen
system with the Doldrums further ahead.
Roland Jourdain (Sill Matines La Potagere) predicts an
"awesome final stretch" to this Vendée Globe and yet
resounded that "the Atlantic is testing our nerves to the limit".
He is undoubtedly relieved, though, by his success in hoisting
the index sail in full, and his slightly superior speed from his
Lombard designed boat over those ahead and behind is
proving that the Breton skipper is back on form. He is still
He is undoubtedly relieved, though, by his success in hoisting
the index sail in full, and his slightly superior speed from his
Lombard designed boat over those ahead and behind is
proving that the Breton skipper is back on form. He is still
hampered by the fact that he has to go straight down to the
second reef and must be cautious in reefing with the repair to
his mast track still not 100 % sure.
Catherine Chabaud (Whirlpool) is routing for her sistership,
‘Sill Matines La Potagere’, to win the race, as she herself
approaches Cape Horn tonight a little further back in 7th
place. She has been having trouble fixing a leak in her port
rudder for sometime recently, but has put that worry behind
her. As for the competition, she is frustrated "not to be
fighting up with the others ahead. I feel a little alone between
Josh and Dominique, so I’m missing the race, the point of
being here really."
The other index news of the day comes from Yves Parlier
(Aquitaine Innovations), who finally set off from his temporary
shelter off Stewart Island, New Zealand at 0700hrs UT with a
self-constructed 18 metre mast – simply an incredible feat! He
was localised by Argos to be travelling at 8.39 knots, heading
101. After 9 days ‘in build’, Yves has achieved, at the price of
his own relentless efforts, skill and ingenuity, to give his hull a
mast worthy of bringing him home to Les Sables d’Olonne at
an honourable speed.
Fedor Konyoukhov’s (MUH) situation is now under control,
although the weather and sea conditions still haven’t allowed
him to climb up the mast and release the index sail halyard,
which got twisted at the top of the mast. As a precaution, until
he has fully repaired the damage on the boat, he is still
heading more North towards Australia/Tasmania. Even the
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been informed of his
current struggles and valiant efforts to continue in the Vendée
Globe in the true spirit of adventure, and has sent words of
encouragement to the skipper himself.
[January 17, 2001 - 2:58:21 PM]
The Russian President shows his support for skipper Fedor
Konyoukhov (Modern University for the Humanities) as he
struggles to repair his boat in the heart of the Southern
Ocean.
This morning Russian president Vladimir Putin was informed
that Russian skipper Fedor Konyukhov is having trouble in the
Indian Ocean. This information was officially delivered to the
President by vice-speaker for the Russian State Parliament
Arthur Chilingarov - who is the patron for all of Fedor
Konyukhov’s expeditions since 1990.
President Vladimir Putin wishes strong courage for the Russian
adventurer. The Russian Embassy in Sydney has been notified
in case the boat ’Modern University for the Humanities’ has to
stop in Australia.
Source: Oscar Konyoukhov, MUH
[January 17, 2001 - 1:08:20 PM]
News from Fedor Konyoukhov (MUH) : His situation is under
control, he does not need assistance, and is very much still in
the race. The weather and sea conditions still haven’t allowed
Fedor to climb up the mast to release the index sail halyard,
which got twisted on the top of the mast. As a precaution, until
he has fully repaired the damage on the boat, he is still
heading more North towards Australia/Tasmania.
Source: Oscar Konyoukhov
[January 17, 2001 - 12:07:59 PM]
Simone Bianchetti (Aquarelle.com): "I am where I should be"
"It’s going well today. I have North North West winds 25/30
knots, and we are beam reaching to the East at 10/12 knots
average. All is well onboard, sailing is good as it is all very
stable .
I check regurlarly the repair I did on my broken spreader, and
the index sail is not pushing anymore, it’s not moving so
much. The repair is quite clean, as when I did it it was quite a
warm day and the chemical epoxy reaction worked out well. I
just need to be careful when I am gybing.
I am happy with the way the boat was prepared by Philippe
Monnet as myself I didn’t have a lot of time. Now I have a
good feeling about the boat. Looking at the rankings, I think
I am where I should be as the boat is not really brand new. I
am happy to be in the last part of the Southern Ocean with a
boat still in good shape, especially when I think about the
BOC, where it was a complete nightmare.
It might be the start of new projects, and I am satisfied the
way I dealt with the security and the speed.
I have found a good balance, better than during the first part
of the race. I know the boat better and I am happy of the
union between me, the boat and the race. "
January 17, 2001 - 11:51:55 AM]
Roland Jourdain (Sill Matines La Potagère): "In my opinion
the final’s going to be awesome!"
"For now I’m just getting the best out of what’s happening
around me to come back a bit, but it’s easier said than done!
The wind is dying and the Atlantic is testing our nerves to the
limit. I hoisted the index sail fully as if it was some ritual and
danced ceremoniously on the foredeck! I’m pretty happy now.
If you were to give me the choice of the ten most beautiful
girls in the world or my index sail, I’d take the index sail!
That’s coming from a man who’s been alone for 2 and a half
months too! It’s a harsh change from full sail to two reefs all
the same, as I still don’t have the ability to leave the index at
the first reefing level. I’ve got to be careful, it’s still not 100
%, but we’re getting there.
"My aim is to get back to Les Sables as quickly as possible. I
hope that the weather will be on my side. A little helping hand
through the Doldrums would be nice! In my opinion, the final
stretch will be awesome. As the temperatures rise, the
enthusiasm to race does too."
"Morale is better now after my stop-over, but the hard times
still hit, especially when you’re really worn out. Physically I’m
okay, there are certainly other things which have changed, my
way of looking at things for example. But we are just drawn in
by the competition now so it doesn’t leave us time to reflect
much."
[January 17, 2001 - 11:34:01 AM]
Catherine Chabaud (Whirlpool) "I know I’ll cry when I pass
Cape Horn!"
"The wind is coming from right where I need to go, I’ve just
come through one gybe and I think I’ll be doing more
throughout today. I’m afraid it looks like I’ll pass Cape Horn
at night. Oh well, I still hope to spy the rock and the
lighthouse. For two days I’ve been having trouble with my port
rudder which has a leak in it. I’ve got to get a move on and
pump nearly 500 litres of water from the rear compartment.
The Sikaflex on the rudder-trunk tube has started coming off
and that’s where the route of the problem is. I spent a long
time trying to re-stick it, but with the pressure of the water I
couldn’t block up the holes very well, but it’s holding for now, I
think it’ll be okay.
"Passing Cape Horn is such an emotional moment, a
landmark full of history and you can’t escape from thinking
about all the other sailors who have passed through these
waters. The natural lay of the land never changes, it’s beauty
is so powerful because of all of this. I know I’ll cry when I go
past Cape Horn, that the emotion’s going to well up inside of
me.
"I’m really eager to leave the Southern Ocean - I’ve had
enough of those difficult seas - and to get back into the
Atlantic whose seas are more regular – yippee! Yes, it’s
frustrating not to be fighting up with the others ahead, I watch
their moves, their weather, but I can’t do much else! I feel a
little alone between Josh and Dominique, so I’m missing the
race, the point of being here really. I really want my sistership
to win the Vendée Globe. Roland chose to have the same
Lombard design and I have utter confidence in this design.
But I hope the best skipper wins in the end!"
January 17, 2001 - 10:24:40 AM]
Ellen MacArthur (Kingfisher) comes out of a long dark night...
"Well it’s been a very frustrating night..Nothing I seem to
have done will make Kingfisher go! It’s been a struggle. I just
hope that poor apparent lack of speed is a pure illusion, and
the position reports show this, though with the others in a
different weather system now it’s doubtful it will be a good
indication.
"I’ve changed from 2 reefs and solent to full index and genoa.
I’ve had ballast in and out, I’ve even lifted up and down the
daggerboard to check there was nothing caught on it...
"Things seem a little better now, but it’s been a long and
tiring period of darkness. Not helped by the fact that I’m
sailing in thick fog - so despite it not raining - the second you
venture outside you become soaked with a thin but
penetrating mist of chill!
"The high point of the night was the dolphin which came to
join us for a short while. His small dark body leaping from the
waves in the misty darkness... It still amazes me each time
one of these creatures comes over to visit...
"Well quite a contrast to yesterday as we had close reaching
and blue skies for the most part of the day, though yesterday
too started with fickle conditions as we had 30+ knots on the
nose for a while. We certainly are not yet in a stable weather
pattern. The forecasts are subtly changing daily, and it’s our
job to be able to spot each subtlety as it subtley shows itself!"
bye for now,
ellen x
Source: Kingfisher Challenges
[January 17, 2001 - 10:01:54 AM]
Yves Parlier has done it!
Building and stepping up an 18 meters mast without stop over
and without assistance.
At 0700 hours UT this morning, Yves Parlier has left his
mooring and is back at sea and heading to Les Sables
d’Olonne.
Source Aquitaine Innovations |
