Betreff: LE DEFI: DOLDRUMS LIVE UP TO REPUTATION...
Absender: "Team Cowes"
Datum: 05. Dec 2003 17:30
LE DEFI: DOLDRUMS LIVE UP TO REPUTATION...
TEAM COWES Le Défi Atlantique campaign is supported by Skandia and Cowes Waterfront
235 MILES N EQUATOR - TEAM COWES 6TH - DISTANCE TO LEADER [ECOVER] 36 MILES
IN BRIEF:
* "NO BREEZE AT ALL..." reported a tired and frustrated Nick as TEAM COWES gets stuck in the Doldrums approx 235 miles north of the equator. Unlike the two-handed TJV race when the Doldrums caused few problems for TEAM COWES, and certainly no periods of being totally becalmed, this crossing is providing conditions that the Doldrums are notorious for...windless holes combined with the dangers of violent squall activity.
* TEAM COWES 36 MILES BEHIND NEW LEADER ECOVER...as the Doldrums plays its hand in reshuffling the pack. At 0600 this morning Vincent Riou on PRB had sneaked into the lead, by 1100 Mike Golding (Ecover) had taken the lead by 7 miles. Yesterday's front runners - Virbac and AT Racing [most westerly boats] - have dropped to 4th and 5th respectively. TEAM COWES is in 6th place on a similar track to Ecover and PRB whilst 3rd placed VMI is the most easterly boat.
Please go to website http://www.nickmoloney.com for latest news at the weekend.
AUDIO CONFERENCE NICK MOLONEY:
"I am right on the edge of a black cloud and there is just no breeze at all - Jo-Jo to the east of me says he has no wind either but he has blue sky! Ecover and PRB have pulled away a bit but not by much and I think they are suffering too. I am not going anywhere that's for sure and there is a danger that they could get away while I stay parked. I reckon we won't be out of the Doldrums for another 4 days. Although it's frustrating - it is good experience, every time you cross this zone you learn more and more, and long-term that's good for the Vendée picture."
LE DEFI POSITIONS 5.12.03 1100GMT:
Pos/Skippers Name/Lat/Long/Boat Name/DTL/DTF
1st Mike Golding / Ecover / N043558 / W0303043 / 0 / 2984.5
2nd Vincent Riou / PRB / N042896 / W0303324 / 7.1 / 2991.6
3rd Sébastien Josse / VMI / N040788 / W0295828 / 13.3 / 2997.8
4th Jean Pierre Dick / Virbac / N051729 / W0325080 / 18.6 / 3003.1
5th Alex Thomson / AT Racing / N053016 / W0332248 / 20.5 / 3005.0
6th Nick Moloney / TEAM COWES / N035596 / W0302908 / 36 / 3020.5
7th Joe Seeten / Arcelor-Dunkerque / N030616 / W0314532 / 111.5 / 3096.0
8th Benoît LEQUIN / Wel.network / N010892 / W0293196 / 170.5 / 3155.0
9th Benoît PARNAUDEAU / Colibri / N004264 / W0324848 / 268.2 / 3252.7
10th Anne LIARDET / Gonna Gitcha / S000560 / W0324708 / 312.1 / 3296.6
PERFORMANCE PARTNER OF THE DAY : MARLOW ROPES
Official Rope Supplier to the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team
http://www.offshorechallenges.com/marlowropes
For Race Information go to www.defi-atlantique.org
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