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Absender: Trimaran Fujifilm
Empfänger: redaktion@segel.de
Datum: 12. Nov 2002 16:56
Press Release N°17 / November 12, 2002
Loïck Peyron : "it's delirious !"
Occupying the second position according to 11:00 GMT rankings, Loïck Peyron is currently encountering very difficult sailing conditions. Since the start, Fujifilm's skipper did not stop manoeuvering, postponing his rest periods : "I anticipate a lot, because for the time being, it's like hell out here. I have to reduce sails early, because there are a lot of gusts, and it's impossible to sleep". Weather conditions which have inflicted much damage onto the fleet, and caused two Orma class trimarans to capsize.
This first portion of the Route du Rhum is indeed quite shaky, and particularly demanding for the skippers still in the race - the list of retirements grows bigger everyday, as the bay of Biscay diminishes the fleet little by little. Physically tough, the race proves to be equally hard to take on a mental level, due to the multiplicity of incidents. During today's audio session, live from the race headquarters, Loïck learnt the bad news : the Eure & Loir trimaran capsized last night, but fortunately her skipper Francis Joyon is safe… "That can't be true ! burst out Loïck. It's crazy… I see where it happened, we were sailing next to each other, there were very strong gusts and a really big swell. We have to be extra, extra careful, and that's why I reindex up on deck, manoeuvering, I reduce sails with the boat facing the wind, completely stopped or even moving backwards".
Waiting for better days…
With every reason to be certain that the safe way is the right way, Loïck counts on his experience and will not let himself be taken by surprise. "Each time we pass a front, we're caught by squalls, it's quite scary, and most of all, it's impossible to sleep. The auto-pilot must not be really trusted, the wind shifts a lot… It's far from funny, but things will start to get better soon, I'll be able to take care of my interior !", laughs Loïck, visibly impatient to find clearer skies. On a more southern route than the rest of the fleet, the skipper holds on to the strategy he had talked about right before the start, managing for the moment a more than chaotic daily life. Perfectly confident as far as his boat's reliability is concerned, Loïck sticks to the first places, while the rankings change very quickly and the three top boats keep on trading places. Fujifilm will have to keep a low profile for another 12 hours, then Loïck will be able to rest a bit…
Live from Fujifilm…
The race
"It's quite sporty - the playground is more than bumpy, to say the least ! The sea is very heavy, we pass through a lot of fronts and some waves are like diving boards".
Bertrand de Broc retires from solo sailing races
"I'm quite shaken, but it's a wise decision. It's a fine thing to be brave and free enough to do this".
The boat
"She has nothing in common with the previous one, she's easier to manage, safer… yet the risk of capsizing reindexs the same".
Rankings
1/ Thomas Coville - Sodebo at 3054 milles from the finish line
2/ Loïck Peyron - Fujifilm, 14 milles from the leader
3/ Yvan Bourgnon - Rexona Men, 16 milles from the leader
More information:
http://www.fujifilm.fr/
http://www.loickpeyron.com/
http://www.routedurhum.org/
Copyright-free pictures (high resolution):
http://www.pixsail.com/eng/peyron
http://www.routedurhum.org/ / Press center section
Fujifilm trimaran Press Office
Copyright-free pictures and videos available upon request
Laurent Simon / Windward Agency
GSM +33 (0)6 80 87 91 34
E-mail trimaran-fujifilm@windward.fr
Agent for Loïck Peyron / Catherine Giry-Devaux
GSM +33 (0)6 07 43 94 00
E-mail c.girydevaux@wanadoo.fr
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