November 24, 2000 - 4:22:01 PM]
Crossing of the Equator - analysis by Philippe Jeantot.
The first nine boats in the 4th edition of the Vendée Globe
have crossed the Equator and are in the Southern
Hemisphere. This is always a symbolic rite of passage in one
way or another for any sailor. You are enteringa new world
almost, as the weather systems, skyline, even the stars are
all different. For the veteran or novice, this crossing holds a
bizarre but traditional ritual. One is obliged to give offerings to
nature’s rulers here, Aeolus and Neptune, to win their favour.
So in a round the world race, the habit is to break open a
bottle of champagne, spray some in the air for Aeolus, the
wind god, and then pour some into the sea for Neptune,
before finally pouring some on the deck. With these respects
paid, the rest is for the skipper. Accordingly, you should have
favourable Southerly winds and seas.
admitted « Passing Gran Canaria, I thought I’m behind the
fleet so let’s try something radical. The Doldrums band was
moving firstly North then South. So I played and won but it
could have gone the other way too. »
The index objective was to cross the Equator point in contact
still with the leading boats if those in pursuit were to have any
opportunities in the future. Today those nine boats have
succeeded in this objective. The strategy for the next few days
is to make steady progress with the SE trade winds of the
Saint Helen high pressure system, and to get round on the
Western side without falling into the calms which spiral round
the centre of the system. This doesn’t pose any great difficulty
for the skippers in general, as the descent is usually fast and
fun. In a few days though the temperature will begin to
decline again as a signal that the high latitudes are ahead.
For the second group the Doldrums allowed them a royal
crossing. Hardly slowed, with only a few violent bursts of storm
clouds, the skippers have made quick progress South and
have folded in half their gap behind the leading boats. Javier
Sanso (Old Spice) commented : « I never slowed down below
3 knots, and that was only for an hour or two. » A little down in
the fleet rankings, Sanso is hoping to gain the advantage
crossing the Equator placed to the East of his 6 nearest
competitors with the arrival of a more Easterly wind forecast.
Eric Dumont (Euroka - Un univers de service) held a radio
interview this morning with the Race HQ to recount the recent
sad events surrounding his decision to abandon his race. «
You don’t head into the Southern Ocean with an emergency
rudder. It’s a system to use for 2 or 3,000 miles home only.
Anyone that’s been there will understand. » Eric is heading
towards the Antilles to make his repairs.
Mike Golding (Team Group 4) passed through the ‘box’ at the
Canaries at 0210hrs UT on the 24th November, and yet was
pleased with the time in the end as in fact the passage had
been slow going and he was still some 100 miles away at
1800hrs the day before. Fortunately the wind picked up to
bring him through just a couple of hours later than expected
and he is now making good progress gybing downwind out of
the shadow of the Canaries in 14/5 knots of breeze.
After 16 days racing, 3 boats have abandonned : Patrick de
Radigues (La libre Belgique), Bernard Stamm (Armor Lux –
Bizac Foie Gras) & Eric Dumont. 21 boats are still racing and
1900 miles separate the first from the last. After their
entrance into the Southern hemisphere, the fleet are heading
towards the roaring 40’s, with two thirds of the race still to go.
[November 24, 2000 - 1:30:38 PM]
Yves Parlier (Aquitaine Innovations) was the first to cross the
Equator at around 1500hrs UT, followed by Michel Desjoyeaux
(PRB) shortly afterwards. First international skipper was Ellen
MacArthur (Kingfisher) at 0125hrs UT, crossing in 4th place.
Parlier had 3 days advance on his performance back in 1996,
leading the fleet then as well. The crippling effects of the
Doldrums have reduced this to about 24 hours. It has taken a
further two and a half days for the leading boats in the
Vendée Globe 2000 fleet to escape the Doldrums in
comparison to ’96.
Mentally these skippers are now in a second phase of the
race. The first phase completed was extremely tactical, even
resembling a regatta, where contact reindexed close and
anything could have happen. One unexpected winner was
Catherine Chabaud (Whirlpool), who benefitted from a 15 –
20 knot easterly wind to escape the Doldrums to the East. She
admitted « Passing Gran Canaria, I thought I’m behind the
fleet so let’s try something radical. The Doldrums band was
moving firstly North then South. So I played and won but it
could have gone the other way too. »
November 24, 2000 - 1:30:38 PM]
Javier Sanso (Old Spice) nearing the Equator: "I’m 4 degrees
North of the Equator. The wind’s still shifting so I’m changing
sails a lot. Sometimes it hits 26 knots. I’m reaching down
South in 14/15 knots and should cross the Equator at 23/4
degrees longitude. I’ve never gone less than 3 knots and that
was only for 1 - 2 hours. I’ve been very lucky here. The wind is
going to come from the East and the 6 guys near me are
more to the West so that should give me the advantage
crossing the Equator - but hey, who knows!
"I am not sleeping much, and I go in and out of the cabin all
the time as I can’t run the autopilot from outside. It gets a
little stressy when the wind stops, but it’s been the fastest
crossing for me! I think I’ve lost weight but got it back in
muscular power! So the rhythm hasn’t changed as the
Doldrums haven’t affected me that much - one time I didn’t
need to touch the sheets for 12 hours or so and that had me
looking for things to do!"
[November 24, 2000 - 1:28:21 PM]
Water leakage on board Fedor Konyoukhov’s boat (Modern
University for the Humanities). The Russian skipper called his
son three times during last night to explain his latest
problems:
"The boat is suffering very badly from the water coming out of
the right rudder. On my boat there are 2 aluminum fixations
that support the rudder, one on the deck (outsider) and one
in the hull - inside of the boat. The rudder fixation inside has
broken this night on two pieces, I was lucky to notice it in
time, because I went on the stern to check my fuel tank and
found this breakage. I did tight two pieces together with kevlar
rope. After, with a scoop, I took out about 2 buckets of water
~ 20 liters. I tried to make a tube,from fiber glass tissue,
epoxy and sicaflex around the rudder stick to keep the water
inside, But it’s not possible since there is a pilot shoulder
above and very close to the damaged fixation. Normally the
tube must go above waterline to keep the water. The central
pump is not pumping the water from the back of the boat. I
am trying to make security pump, just for the stern. I am
afraid about my hydraulic pilot that covers by the water
constantly. It’s hard to work, the sea is very choppy, waves are
high and sharp, the boat is thrown from one side to another.
Fedor"
[November 24, 2000 - 1:19:25 PM]
Mike Golding (Team Group 4) leaves the Canary Islands
behind.
"I arrived at the Canaries at 0210 UT on the 24th November.
Although I was two hours later than the ETA, I thought I was
actually going to be even later as the wind shifted and it was
slow going. I was still 100 miles away at 1800 hours but then
the wind picked up so I was able to reach the box in the end.
"I’ve just put the spi up, and the Canaries are to my North
now. I’m heading 250 and pushing to the right as much as
possible. I’ve got 14/5 knots and it’s a beautiful day for
sailing. I am tired still as I was up all night working the boat
through the wind shadows of the Canaries, and I’m a bit
remiss on meals but this first step has been good.
"The forecast is looking good for me. There’s a good breeze
ahead and I shall look for opportunities downwind. I am a few
hours behind the leaders but the pressure is good to the
South and West, which is where I’m heading,s o that’s good! I
imagine the Doldrums as a band which moves North and
South. A good crossing is to go through it once, a bad one is
to go through it 3 times, you never cross it just twice. I am
doing my best to get into the band far South at its extremity
as if you catch it North it will sit over you. It’s an unpredictable
element and I’m monitoring its position for a good entry
point. I have a waypoint I put in but I don’t anticipate arriving
there, it’s just a marker for me.
"It’s fascinating to see what’s happening ahead. When the
front runners entered the Doldrums the North and South
Atlantic Highs were weak so the band was wide. The boats
behind have a better pattern but remember I’m a week
behind! But the long range forecast is better for me as the
North and South highs are stretching still. My trip from here to
Cape Verde I’ll be gybing, which is good for the boatspeed,
but not directly towards the mark."
[November 24, 2000 - 11:46:37 AM]
Raphaël Dinelli (Sogal Extenso) has had a smooth crossing of
the Doldrums: "Yesterday I was sailing upwind in a
Southeasterly and overnight I was attacked by a cloud squall.
My biceps are getting a good work out with all the sail
changes! The wind hasn’t ever really died off. It just changed
from NE to SE. Everything else on board is in tip top condition.
I am still working from my emergency PC though.
[November 24, 2000 - 11:31:40 AM]
Roland Jourdain (Sill Matines La Potagère) crossed the
Equator overnight at around 0200 hours Friday morning: "I
opened a fine bottle of red given to me by my friends at Sill.
Aeolus and Neptune like red wine and I do too! I also prized
open a can of foie gras to celebrate, but it turned out to be a
little warm."
Source: Vincent Borde/Sill
[November 24, 2000 - 11:27:20 AM]
Catherine Chabaud (Whirlpool) has played to win the
Doldrums lottery. "I’ve got out of the Doldrums okay. I have a
15-20 knot Easterly wind, which has been in place for about 20
hours now. This was my means of escape. Another squall has
come across and so like the others I’m sailing upwind more.
In these more stable conditions I can recuperate a little. I’m
going to try and sleep more in the next few days in fact. I
have to try and sort one problem - there’s air in the keel
hydraulic system.
"I passed the Equator at 0500hrs this morning. I can’t
pinpoint exactly when I was on the phone at the time. I have
a little yellow flower arrangement at the back of the boat in
the corner. It reminds me of France in Autumn time. I threw it
in the water at the stern, a ceremony for the boat rather than
for me as she hadn’t crossed the Equator before, but I have.
"I am glad to have proved that you can cross the Doldrums to
the East. Passing Gran Canaria I thought, well, I’m behind the
fleet so let’s try something radical. The Doldrums band was
moving firstly North then South. So I played and won but it
could have gone the other way too."
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