Betreff: Alex Thomson Racing in The Défi Atlantique: All Change in the Doldrums as AT Racing surfs through the squalls
Absender: "Mary Ambler"
Datum: 05. Dec 2003 15:41
ALEX THOMSON RACING
ALL CHANGE IN THE DOLDRUMS AS AT RACING SURFS THROUGH THE SQUALLS
Défi Atlantique: DAY 5
Leader: Mike Golding (Ecover)
12:00 GMT Position of AT Racing: 12 08 N, 33 21.2 W
Wind & Speed: 14/15 knots from NE, boat speed 10 knots
Location: mid-Atlantic, 800m SW of Cape Verde Islands
* AT Racing came out of the Doldrums at 33 W this morning as the furthest boat North and West of the Défi Atlantique fleet. However, Alex’s 5th place in the rankings today, after leading yesterday, doesn’t look great as the pack 140m to the East, headed up by new race leader Ecover (Golding), are closer to the finish in terms of distance to go and therefore ahead. “The guys in the East look like they haven’t stopped through the Doldrums, hmmm, it’s not looking pretty, but it could still all change, everyone is so close really although we are spread about 160m across…”
* Alex Thomson has been learning the fine line between control and chaos hand-steering his Open 60 through the violent squalls: “It’s insane! I’m holding the sheets with both hands, steering with my nose, it’s dark and I can’t see anything for water over the boat and spray up my face, the deck spreader’s submerged and I’m just hoping to god that the boat doesn’t broach! I did think about getting the kite up in one squall, but now I’d rather jump off the back of the boat!”
Today’s 11:00 GMT position report brought about yet another lead change on day 5 of the Défi Atlantique, so close are all the boats to each other in terms of distance to finish. And yet the 9 Open 60’s are in different weather and spread across the Atlantic from AT Racing at 33 West to VMI at 29 West. This means for the skippers that it’s impossible to cover all your rivals’ moves and they just have to stick to their route and hope it pays. Today, fellow Brit Mike Golding on Ecover is occupying the top spot. Alex reflects on the latest report: “The guys in the East look like they haven’t stopped through the Doldrums, hmmm, it’s not looking pretty, but it could still all change, everyone is so close really although we are spread about 160m across from me to VMI. You choose your route not just to get through the Doldrums, but also relative to where you need to be when you exit for the next weather system. I thought I’d chosen a good route through but we’ll see if I picked the right one for what’s coming up soon..! I’m pleased that after the rollercoaster ride through the Doldrums over night I have kept up with Virbac.”
Alex Thomson learned more about the fine line between control and chaos hand-steering a 60ft rocket ship through violent squalls at night time: “I’ve spent 36 hours on deck and 1 hour sleeping. I got into this routine: I see a cloud coming, go downstairs, put on my shoes and Helly Hansen spray top, go back upstairs and wait until it arrives. Then I hold the index and jib sheets in both hands, and steer with my nose – you have to be on manual pilot in the squalls but I’ve run out of hands by then! Suddenly 35 knots of wind hits the boat. It’s dark and I can’t see anything for water over the boat and when I look down the water in the cockpit’s up to my calves, I’m blinded by spray flying up into my face, and so all I can do is sail the boat to the instruments – when I can see them! The deck spreader’s submerged and I’m just hoping to god that the boat doesn’t broach! It’s insane, mate! I did think about getting the kite up in one squall, but now I’d rather jump off the back of the boat!”
Alex managed to send through a fantastic image of what it’s like surfing through squalls which really helps us armchair sailors to empathise a little with what our wet and wild boy is going through out in the middle of the Atlantic on his own – you can view it on the website at www.alexthomsonracing.com : “Normally the squalls don’t last that long, so I tend not change headsails or reef the index, but then one lasted a whole hour, and I was averaging 19 knots with the full index and gennaker up! It can get pretty hairy when the deck spreader’s in the water, and I really don’t want to broach the boat. I can see the cloud coming and dump the index and bear down, suddenly the wind’s gone from 5 to 15 and then 25 knots and I’m back in the washing machine again!
“The worse part is after the squall passes, as either the wind dies completely or it changes direction, so that means I have to change sails and get the boat back up to speed. I try not to reef the indexsail in the squalls if they don’t last long, as I know I’ll just have to take it out again afterwards when the wind dies and I don’t want to lose pace. But it’s all down to experience, I know Bilou would have reefed and after one nasty experience I did reef the next time, and then thought it was okay, so I didn’t reef the next time… I have to be careful flying masthead sails through the squalls too as the top of the rig is unsupported. I thought I had got out of the Doldrums last night and so got the Code 0 out in a NE light 5 knot breeze. I went downstairs to shut my eyes at last but then woke with the lurch of the boat and before I knew it the wind was up again and I thought “Here we go again…shoes and top on, out you go!” I guess all of us are finding where that fine line is, and looking at where Virbac is, maybe I have been pushing harder than Jean-Pierre overnight. You live and learn!”
And finally…in all of this Alex is trying to keep himself in fine physical shape. “I eat one proper meal a day, and munch a lot on energy bars, biscuits and other snacks in between but feel absolutely fine, I am not lacking energy. I do have a sweet tooth, so there’s a lot of goodies stashed on the boat. I can cane a packet of skittles in 15 minutes and I love cola bottles too. The trouble is, I’m going to run out of my favourite stuff first and then I’ll only have all the healthy proper meals to eat until the finish – oh, I suppose that’s a good thing, really…”
FOLLOW ALEX THOMSON ON THE ALEXTHOMSONRACING.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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