[November 20, 2000 - 4:27:45 PM]
Richard Tolkien (This Time - Argos Soditic) emails in a
heartening message:
"Good afternoon. Today I managed to set the gennaker and
our speed is well up. Hopefully we can start to claw back some
miles on VM Materiaux and Nd Pas de Calais. The tack of the
sail had pulled out and after making the repair I wanted the
wind and sea to go down before testing the repair. Next big
job is to go up mast to re-rig the genoa, hopefully late
tomorrow as wind and sea go down. Water maker now working.
Once all done maybe the biggest challenge of all, a
conference in French!"
Source: L. Godron - Argos Soditic
[November 20, 2000 - 3:13:49 PM]
PRB & Aquitaine Innovations in a masterful duel across the
Doldrums - analysis by Philippe Jeantot.
As if in a repeat performance of the last edition, it is the same
two boats, PRB & Aquitaine Innovations, who are in a
masterful duel in this 4th edition of the Vendée Globe, as they
cross the Doldrums. Yves Parlier (Aquitaine Innovations) was
ahead when he entered the Doldrums to the East. The first to
slow up, he has now forfeited his lead to Michel Desjoyeaux
(PRB), who lies a few degrees to the West in a slightly more
stable wind. The impressive average speed of 15 knots held
by these leaders have diminished as the winds have as well.
In fact, they entered the Doldrums at approximately 8° North.
This zone seems to be spreading further to the East from 25°
West.
Michel Desjoyeaux, in the better position, has taken
advantage here and pushed out a 30 mile lead overnight.
Marc Thiercelin (Active Wear) is in between the two in
longitude and has slowed up as well : « I am a bit too far in
the East. Well, I was trying to see if I could cut through but it
hasn’t worked out. » The group of Roland Jourdain (Sill
Matines La Potagère), Thierry Dubois (Solidaires), Thomas
Coville (Sodebo, savourons la vie) & Ellen MacArthur
(Kingfisher) have all gained from taking a more Westerly
route earlier on. They have retained some speed and are
closing the gaps ahead. One of Ellen’s autopilots failed earlier
and caused an involuntary gybe, slicing the indexsheet on its
broken block. Despite keeping up the best speeds, she is also
finding the route hard going : « Footing off again to the west,
bit annoyed I didn’t stick to my original plan...I think I’m
learning a lot still on the weather, this is a really tough place
for it. »
Eight boats are within a range of 60 miles. After 11 days
racing there is still not much in it. Yves Parlier was rating 4
knots in 5 knots of wind from the East - Southeast this
morning : « The wind seems to be building a little, could be
the start of a Southerly trade breeze, but I think I’m still too
North to feel that. I think the way ahead will get more difficult
before the trade winds come back. »
The contrasting changes between blue skies and dark clouds,
charged with wind and rain, controls the skippers’ lives. The
wind can go from steady (3 – 4 knots) to gale force (40 knots)
all in the space of a passing cloud formation. They must
reindex extremely alert to ensure the sail configuration is
constantly adapted to the oncoming conditions. In the calm
stretches it’s best to helm manually to get every knot of
speed out of each sudden whim of the breeze. It can be a real
test of the nerves, and of the body as a whole. Rarely will the
skipper be able to sleep ; not only as they need to keep up a
permanent vigil, but also because the interior feels like a
baking oven.
Catherine Chabaud (Whirlpool) is a little anxious of her
position behind the leaders : « I am paying dearly for my
option in the East. There are still opportunities to come back,
happily. I’ve been studying the weather from satellite images
and maps. While the chart table has become ultimately
high-tech, up on deck we still use the same old way to make
the boat move : wind ! »
Bernard Stamm (Armor Lux – Bizac foies gras), following the
official annoucement of his withdrawal from the race due to
irreparable autopilot problems, has come into port at the
south end of Sal, one of the islands at Cape Verde. « I am
waiting for one of my shore team, who’s bringing the parts
over. I’m so disappointed but I have to put things in
perspective. I was up in the leading pack. My boat was going
well, and I have proved that I can be competitive. My
sponsors have assured me that they will continue to support
me. For sure, I’ll be back for the Vendée Globe in 4 years
time. » Bernard had won the world over already with his charm
and character, and so we certainly hope to see him racing
again soon.
Dominique Wavre (Union Bancaire Privée) has suffered from
both his options to head West since the start, neither of which
have paid. « I don’t regret taking these routes, it just hasn’t
worked out, that’s all. The boat is in perfect condition and I
have every confidence of doing well in the near future. » Javier
Sanso (Old Spice), is another skipper licking his wounds a
little, but from his position now behind his closest rivals on the
water, Seeten (Nd Pas de Calais/Choc du Monde) and
Carpentier (VM Materiaux), he hopes to be able to gamble
right next time. « I’m behind but I’m not going to follow the
others as our boatspeed is similar, so I’ll play my own cards
and hope to gybe at the right time and gain back a couple of
positions. This boat goes faster in lighter winds so who knows
! »
Mike Golding (Team Group 4) is gaining confidence as the
days go by. He has got to his point off Cape Finisterre quicker
than the other boats, and hopes to reach the Canaries by the
23rd, but he adds a note of caution : « I’m not comparing my
mileage to that of the leader as you have to take the route
into account as well. I’m pushing 15 - 18 knots out of the
boat, which has kept me busy on sail changes, and I stayed
at the helm until 5am. »
One thing is for certain, the next few hours of the race will be
critical and no-one dare predict who will escape the Doldrums
and get ahead in the Southern hemisphere trade winds first.
The fleet is regrouping up at the front, but could stretch out
again after crossing the Equator.
[November 20, 2000 - 2:37:35 PM]
Ellen MacArthur (Kingfisher) cuts it fine - latest news from on
board:
"We were sailing along quite happily, I’d just put the gennaker
up when the pilot failed and we went in to an involuntary gybe.
The indexsheet snapped as it was sliced by the broken
block...big mess.
I sat down and thought it through logically -
Its taken me two hours to get it all fixed, but I guess at least
I’ve now sorted out the broken indexsheet block that was
sitting there as an undone job (this is what happens when
something is left for too long!).
"I used the mobile Spinlock jammer to lock off the reindexs of
the indexsheet while I sorted the problem. Cut my finger in
the process...more blood! I switched to the other pilot which is
fine, but I need to try to find out what happened. I’m under a
rain cloud and its very squally. Footing off again to the west,
bit annoyed I didn’t stick to my original plan...I think I’m
learning a lot still on the weather, this is a really tough place
for it.."
Source: Kingfisher Challenges
[November 20, 2000 - 2:06:51 PM]
"Out of the port coach roof window Cabo Villano looms ahead
and the Spanish Coast, steep and forbidding in the poor
visibility, is slipping past. The GPS tells me that its 4pm
Sunday the deadline which has ruled the past 10 days since
shortly after the fleet started and Team Group 4’s mast
crashed to the deck for no apparent reason and with it, the
dreams of the past four years - gone in the blink of an eye.
"For me the Vendée Globe was not just another race but the
culmination of ten years of professional sailing. The four year
dream to compete in this event had occupied the minds of my
team and I on every single day. Team Group 4 was built two
years ago with this event in mind. Preparation was our
watchword and we had sailed the boat in events building and
gathering knowledge for this one event. Then, quicker than
you can say Vendée Globe, the dream of winning was gone.
"I am not really coping with this twist of fate - the enormity of
the fact still blows my mind. All I can do is press on - day by
day and try to make some good come of all our work. Fate
after all can twist both ways. The departure from Les Sables
was again an emotional one. As we motored out the support
crew stood on the foredeck and people and cars appeared
honking horns and clapping. The tears welled up - though I
cannot be sure exactly why. I was not feeling either happy or
sad, just feeling the need to try to get going. More than
anything it was the warmth of this crowd - who took the time to
come and cheer the efforts of the team in getting back on the
water so swiftly after such a setback.
"The first couple of days have been predictably busy,
reorganising the boat and establishing a list of things to fix or
attend to when the opportunity arises I am left with some
problems, some leaks from the replaced rudder and at the
mast step and no masthead wind gear. The cable was checked
before the mast was stepped and seemed fine, but it appears
that the cable is damaged inside the spar and the information
coming in is garbage - also the mast has, after just three
days, developed corrosion from electricity leaking from the
wand cable - I have had to disconnect and at present cannot
see a solution to this. Ironically, the broken mast had two
cables fitted for just this eventuality.
"Sailing without wind instruments on an Open 60 could be
described as being like a Formula 1 car without its rev counter.
Licking one finger and sticking it in the air is useless on a
boat that can travel as fast as the wind. I now have the aft
wand which I will need to change for the B&G wand to get the
system working again. It’s not ideal as all the performance
polars have been gained with information from the masthead.
Perhaps the index problem is that the autopilots use the wind
gear to steer the boat and without this life becomes more
difficult.
"The NKE pilot is playing up now, it was damaged when the
mast fell onto the tiller - we replaced the ram and the
computer but it seems that the problem goes a little further
into the system. I will need to change the rudder reference
unit - a simple job - but the problem is the initialisation of the
system which needs to be done whilst stationary.
"Still I am making fair progress and am currently sailing 60
miles to the west of the Portuguese coast at 15kts. Last night
was a very busy one with all the shipping lanes after Cabo
Villano. I could not sleep at all until I was sure to be clear.
Then several squalls had me struggling for control with the
boat careering along at 20+ knots unsure of the wind speed or
direction. I kept going until the early hours when sleep got the
better of me and I slept for an hour going slowly though in the
right direction."
[November 20, 2000 - 12:47:47 PM]
Chatting with Javier Sanso (Old Spice) : "I’ve lost a few
positions, Nord Pas de Calais (Seeten) has gone away from
me, but it’s not so bad, I’m still in there. They decided to get
West, I’ve stuck pretty much in the middle as I didn’t want to
lose time going West. For some of the boats it’s paid off but
it’s not always certain. The forecast is that the wind will be
more North tonight, I don’t know, may be yes I’d like to be
100 miles further west but i’ve decided on this route now. I’ll
have to gybe west tonight as there’s no wind ahead of me.
I’m behind but I’m not going to follow the others as our
boatspeed is similar, so I’ll play my own cards and hope to
gybe at the right time and gain back a couple of positions.
This boat goes faster in lighter winds so who knows...may be
when I speak to you next I’ll be up with Parlier!"
[November 20, 2000 - 12:36:44 PM]
Things are looking up for Mike Golding, literally...
In the radio chat today, Mike Golding (Team Group 4)
commented on his progress : "As we speak I am looking up
at the mast. I’m very tired, actually, and still coming to terms
with things, but as the days go by and I have more normal
days, my confidence goes up and I start enjoying it!
"I’m making very good progress, on course for the Canaries
pushing 15 - 18 knots out of the boat, which has kept me
busy on sail changes, and I helmed until 5am. I slept for an
hour afterwards, and slowed the boat up a bit then, but it’s
like Russian roulette with no wind instruments just trying to
avoid an accident.
"I’m not going as fast as I’d like, but I’m not comparing my
mileage to that of the leader as you have to take the route
into account as well. I’m too busy sailing, which is good for
me, and yes I have got where I am off Cape Finisterre quicker
than the others so that is one good point. The next will be the
Canaries and so on. I’m going to slight to the right hand side
a little, but make no major deviations. The wind looks flukey
ahead, but I hope to arrive at the Canaries by the 23rd."
[November 20, 2000 - 12:09:21 PM]
Bernard Stamm (Armor Lux Foies Gras Bizac):
"I have anchored in the South of the Sal Island, and I am
waiting for somebody who is coming with some gear to repair
the autopilots. They really are dead. I arrived this morning, it
wasn’t that hard and I didn’t require any assistance as I was
arriving downwind. Now I am waiting for my team to arrive, I
will repair bits and pieces but also sleep. I need to put things
in perspective and my sponsors still support me."
Raphaël Dinelli (Sogal Extenso):
"All is fine onboard. I have had a few problems with IT and
communication systems. I also have problems with my old
Kevlar sails, especially with the staysail and the gennaker. The
boat suffers from the changes I had to make due to the new
rules, it is heavier and slower in the lighter winds. But it is
clean enough and I am preparing her well for the Southern
Ocean."
[November 20, 2000 - 12:06:48 PM]
Marc Thiercelin (Active Wear) heading into the Black Hole : "I
am under these great clouds. Perhaps, like Yves, a little too
far East to stay on a more direct route, but that isn’t
apparently it’s not so good either. I’ve tried that... Desjoyeaux
seems to be coming through better.
"Otherwise, last night was spent adjusting everything: furling,
unfurling, becalmed / squall / becalmed... classic stuff! But
the wind is from the South East... to early to say if it’s the
trades coming back, I am still too far North, although the swell
is building...I must reindex a little wary of these conditions, it’s
such a strange zone, which I hope I’ll be out of tomorrow
night. Despite all, the race is going better for me than four
years ago."
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