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
* 65 Knots of wind expected tomorrow " If we can gain enough west ground tonight we may only see 25-30 upwind".
* Even though they are officially out of the ROARING 40's and hoping that the weather pattern improves - ORANGE may plan to slow down if the conditions become to dangerous "It would be STUPID to break anything"
* Morning positions place ORANGE west of Tristan da Cunha Group of Islands and heading EAST
POSITION REPORT (Day 48 at sea)
COMPARISON table / JULES VERNE TROPHY
18th April 2002 0808 GMT
47 DAYS SAILED - 24 DAYS TO FINISH TO BEAT RECORD OF 71 DAYS
MILES TO FINISH : 4200 (approximately)
AVERAGE SPEED REQUIRED TO BEAT RECORD : 7.29 KNOTS
POSITION ORANGE
Position : 37°33'S / 25°31' W
Speed 24h : 18.66
Distance since departure : 21058.68 miles
Distance 24h : 301.88 miles
COMPARISON TO SPORT ELEC IN 1997
Position : 55°47 'S / 65°49' W
Speed 24h : 15.05
Distance since departure : 17271.20 miles
Distance 24h : 361 miles
LATEST LOGBOOK FROM NICK
00:14gmt 18/04
We are currently trying to sail as fast as we can to the east. the low to
the west of us is very powerful and our current location is expecting 65kts
of wind tomorrow. If we can gain enough west ground tonight we may only see
25-30 upwind.
yesterday was our first day in around 20 that we had clear skys and
sunshine. I know that this sounds corney but it was like a visit from an old
friend. I sat for a period under the companion way dome and absorbed some of
the suns natural warmth through the perspex. The world looked almost normal
again.
By late afternoon the frontal clouds rolled in and we have begun skirting
this next system throughout the night. At the moment its early morning and
we are all waiting in full wet weather gear to change sails when the wind
builds quickly as per forecast.
we are still full index and solent. but the gusts are getting stronger and
the top of our wing mast has begun to humm. Flat seas are assisting our
speed which is around 17kts but the night is very dark.
Quite a few of the lads are frustrated by the lack of North in our course
and are becoming impatient to get home. In the last 2 days the sea
temperature has risen from 8c-18c which is quite amazing. Along with
sunshine we were treated yesterday by two Albatross' swooping off our bows
and our first sighting of flying fish.
Its an anxious period awaiting a storm. We all know the procedure but
whilst your heart is saying 'your almost there' the chance of breakage due
to strong winds and rough seas makes you feel like the finish is another 3
months away. actually if we get headed any more we will sail under SAffrica
and have to do another lap??
I am happy with our progress, we have been smokin, but we have sailed alot
of extra distance to avoid storms. I have always treated offshore racing
as though the fleet were leaving a trail of string in their path. At the end
of the race you retrieve your trail of string, roll it into a ball and
usually those wilth the smallest balls of string are the top place getters.
i was very surprised today to hear that our AVERAGE speed since the begining
is over 18kts...wow! I will be interested to see what our actual distance
sailed will be at the finish.
we are 38 degrees south now so officially out of the roaring forties and
beyond. I hope that the weather maps improve for us here in the South
Atlantic for, as we all know too well, the clock is ticking.
Even Gilles our navigator in now predicting a finish on my birthday may 5.
what a gift that would be.
Nick
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