Alex Thomson Racing: AT Racing in 2nd - it's all about being in the right place at the right time
Absender: "Mary Ambler"
Datum: 03. Dec 2003 16:17
ALEX THOMSON RACING
‘AT RACING’ IN 2ND - IT’S ALL ABOUT BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME
Défi Atlantique: DAY 3
Leader: Virbac (Dick FRA)
12:00 GMT Position of AT Racing: 03 35.5 S, 34 07.5 W
Speed: 13 knots
Location: Approaching Fernando de Noronha archipelago
* Alex is undeniably very excited to find himself in 2nd place this morning after the polling difficulties and errors since the start of the race. “I was 99.9% sure I knew I was up with Virbac as I could see the boat, but it was nice to have my true position confirmed at last!”
* AT Racing is roughly 5 miles behind the Virbac as these two leaders stay on a direct Northerly route towards the Equator. Fifty miles behind the next pack have forked off one or two degrees over to the East more – this split is in anticipation of the Doldrums just above the Equator as each skipper analyses this meteorological phenomenon in order to select their waypoint through.
* Alex’s learning curve is steep but he is quickly getting into a good rhythm with ‘AT Racing’ on day 3 of The Défi. He talks below about what has contributed to his performance and style of sailing solo for the first time on his Open 60: “I never realised how much I soaked up from racing 4,100 miles with Bilou until I began this race – it’s phenomenal, nothing could substitute that experience of time on the water with the master!”
* The Défi Atlantique race positions are now going up online more regularly, although there are still some small blips.
Alex is pretty pumped up today and rang in hardly able to contain his excitement: “I was 99.9% sure I was up with Virbac but it doesn’t half feel good to have it confirmed at last! What was even nicer this morning was to discover the good 50m separation between us two and the rest of the fleet. Nice one..! There were two factors really, I think most importantly in any race I’ve ever done, I believe in the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer – you have to be the one to get into the new wind first, in this case we got to the corner of Brazil first and were the first to bear away, and this has opened up our advantage on the others. Also, Virbac and AT Racing have been sailing a hotter, faster angle, and so it’s all about being in the right place at the right time. Jean-Pierre bore away first but I cut the corner on Virbac a bit on the inside so I am still up there too, whereas the others have been losing more miles.
“I’m loving it, you wouldn’t believe how much I’m really enjoying this! It sort of does and doesn’t feel like I am sailing on my own. I don’t feel like I am missing having anyone else on board. I am pacing myself as well, not jumping up and down like I was in the Jacques Vabre wanting to change sails at the hint of new breeze. I think it’s got to do with the fact that I have only myself to rely on, and there’s no-one else like Bilou with me to bounce off or question so although I am pushing hard, it is a lot more natural. I am questioning myself the whole time, and making lots of mistakes of course, lots of silly mistakes too! Just things like remembering what to check or how to trim the headsails…
“On the other hand I am learning so much by doing it myself. It took me 2 hours to decide to put up the gennaker, then I got it ready, then I thought about it some more, then I wondered what Bilou would have done, but in the end I thought I won’t know unless I try it, so up it went and for the last 2 hours it’s looking good! I never realised how much I soaked up from racing 4,100 miles with Bilou until I began this race – it’s phenomenal, nothing could substitute that experience of time on the water with the master! This is an ideal race for me to apply those lessons in race conditions that exactly match those of the Vendée Globe. The Doldrums are stabilising a bit now but it’s still too early to make a decision on which way through to go for…
“The index thing for me is to qualify for the Vendée, and I have to remember to manage my priorities according to this goal first. So there’s me worrying about sorting out my ballast but then something else came up which I then realised was a more important priority, and this helps me sort out my jobs list. I’m still not sleeping right but I do monitor my body and I know when it is low. I haven’t cooked myself a proper meal yet and I need to. But being in second place is a huge motivation in itself to get on, and I am very confident that I am in the right place here – well Virbac is here too!”
FOLLOW ALEX THOMSON ON THE ATR.COM WEBSITE
You can follow Alex Thomson’s racing programme on a new-look format of the current campaign website at www.alexthomsonracing.com, where Alex’s personal updates & images taken on board, plus the latest race information and boat positions will be posted daily online. If you wish to make enquiries, sign up to receive updates or send Alex a message of support at any time please register your email through the Quick Enquiries section online or at info@at-racing.com.
The Défi Atlantique official race web site is at www.defi-atlantique.org
High resolution images of Alex Thomson / ‘AT Racing’ (on board & aerial) are available on request and copyright free.
For all photography, interviews and information, please contact Mary Ambler.
ENDS
AT Racing Ltd
Address: Unit 11, Haslar Marina, Haslar Road, Gosport PO12 1NU
Tel: +44 (0)23 9252 4343 - Fax: +44 (0)23 9252 4646
Website: www.alexthomsonracing.com
Sponsorship enquiries: sponsorship@at-racing.com
General enquiries: info@at-racing.com
Media enquiries: Mary Ambler - Email: mary@alexthomsonracing.com - Mobile: +44 (0) 7887 643 583
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