Latest news from Nick Moloney to Dr Krumnacker
Segel.de
Nick Moloney is a member of Ellen MacArthur's Offshore Challenges Sailing Team http://www.nickmoloney.com
* A complicated path to the EQUATOR .. disturbed weather patterns ahead including a LOW generating with 60 knot plus winds.
* The next 36 hours should be fair weather .... ORANGE should head East to avoid the LOW or North to progress more quickly towards the Equator. " I often wonder if its worth sailing so much extra distance to avoid fast moving storms or if you should just sail best course home"
* To beat the current record ORANGE must cross the finish line before 12th May 2002 at 23h 57mn 29s GMT
POSITION REPORT (Day 47 at sea)
COMPARISON table / JULES VERNE TROPHY
17th April 2002 0808 GMT
46 DAYS SAILED - 25 DAYS TO FINISH TO BEAT RECORD OF 71 DAYS
MILES TO FINISH : 4260 (approximately)
AVERAGE SPEED REQUIRED TO BEAT RECORD : 7.1 KNOTS
POSITION ORANGE
Position : 40°21'S / 30°53' W
Speed 24h : 21.06
Distance since departure : 20747.92 miles
Distance 24h : 384.05 miles
COMPARISON TO SPORT ELEC IN 1997
Position : 56°07 'S / 76°34' W
Speed 24h : 14.62
Distance since departure : 16910.20 miles
Distance 24h : 351 miles
LATEST LOGBOOK FROM NICK
Just gibed and are now making better course to the north. Have sailed from
67west (cape Horn longitude) to 33 which is half the easterly ground need to
cover to the finish. We have been booting east for met reasons but need to
head north. I often wonder if its worth sailing so much extra distance to
avoid fast moving storms or if you should just sail best course home and
deal with what comes your way within reason?
We are 45degrees north but it is still coldish. the skys have begun to clear
and yesterday was the first real patches of sunshine since passing under
Tasmania.
Last night whilst getting ready for our watch the lads ondeck were
complaining about the cold so I donned an extra layer. We were sailing with
one reef and the small spi witht the TWS ranging from 16kts to 38kts.
Big,big waves sending you hurtling off at 35kts into the black pits.
Everybody braced down below as we made quite a few minor nose dives. A
little chaotic on the helm and walked away covered in sweat...so much for
it being cold.
Its pretty wild sailing this beast in dodgy conditions. You creep your bows
closer to the wind slowly to increase speed a little the bang you are hit by
a big gust or are picked up by a large wave and you are just OFF! the speed
increase is amazing, any one standing falls on their butt sometimes even the
helmsman. Every body braces themselves for the punch into the wave infront
and the solid wall of water to engulf the cock pit. the only things breaking
through the pitch black night is the red illuminated nav instruments and the
whites of our eyes that are sometimes as big as Pizzas. Whilst I was getting
ready to go on deck, Jo Jo was carefully preparing himself a cocktail of
porridge, milk, sugar, raisins etc. Eventually finished and ready to devour we
planted the bows just as he was taking a seat in the galley and the whole
thing hit the floor and exploded. He proceeded to let rip with a couple of
great common Australian expressions that I have exchanged onboard for
French.
Everybody is monitoring the sea temp and holding out to see what becomes of
this depression in our north before catching up on some hygiene indextenance.
Most of us are still in the same set of thermals for the past 15days or so
not wanting to risk our last dry set in the oncoming storm. I have not
shaven for about 2 weeks as its better when you are heavily clad with your
collar fastened tight around your face. We wash with baby wipes regularly
but am looking forward to my first real bucket bath when the weather and sea
temp get warmer which is still, unfortunately, about 5 days away.
nnnniiiicccceeee.
need to eat something before my watch so better fly
cheers everyone for the incredible e-mails. I am amazed how far our story is
reaching. a very sincere thanks to all.
bye for now
Nick
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