Betreff: Alex Thomson Racing in The Défi Atlantique: AT Racing goes head to head on the high seas with PRB
Absender: "Mary Ambler"
Datum: 13. Dec 2003 20:40
ALEX THOMSON RACING
AT RACING GOES head TO head ON THE HIGH SEAS WITH PRB
Défi Atlantique: DAY 13
13th December 2003
Race Leader: AT Racing (Thomson GBR) – 15m ahead of PRB (Riou FRA)
Position at 11:00 GMT: 34 40.2480 N, 016.1072W
AT Racing Location: 300m to the WSW of Cape Finisterre & WNW of Lisbon
Miles to La Rochelle finish line: 650m
ETA La Rochelle: Late Tuesday night (16th) or early Wednesday morning
* Listen to Alex Thomson’s latest satellite phone interviews online at www.defi-atlantique.org/uk.
* Alex Thomson still hasn’t quite come to terms with breaking the World Speed Sailing 24hr Monohull Record yesterday morning, as he focuses on expanding and controlling his 15m advantage over PRB (Riou): “It still hasn’t really sunk in, but I’ve been bowled over by all the people who’ve sent messages to me. I think it’ll hit me when I’ve crossed the finish line... Now the race with PRB is closer than ever, so I’m preparing myself today for a pretty difficult 36 hours ahead – but I’m going for the bullet.”
* In the same day as breaking a World Speed Sailing Record, AT Racing stopped completely for one and a half hours after the wind instruments failed and short-circuited all the electrics and autopilots: “I’m lucky this didn’t happen when I was going for the record, but I still got really frustrated, as I broached when the pilot went and then lost 10 miles with the boat dead in the water whilst I got the second autopilot going. I still have no wind instruments, and so now I’ve got to stay out on deck most of the time to trim the boat to the smallest wind shift, which is crucial for boat speed.”
* Alex has only praise for the love of his life – his boat of course: “I’m so lucky, I’ve ended up with exactly the right partner, she is the most beautiful boat I’ve ever sailed, and I can’t wait to look after her, she’s looked after me so well during the race – I love her!”
Alex Thomson & his Open 60 AT Racing are down to the final 650 miles of this 4,100 mile solo transatlantic race, which has gripped us all since the 10 strong solo fleet left Salvador on the 30th November for La Rochelle, France; constant lead changes, unpredictable weather systems, damages, a dismasting and not least of all THE world record-breaking performance from our ‘rookie’ Alex, still leading the fleet in this, his first ever Open 60 yacht race. He’s been on one two-week roller coaster ride so far, but it’s your turn to fasten your seat belts as our young British ‘star sailor’ goes head to head on the high seas with French rival Vincent Riou on ex-Vendée Globe winning boat PRB in the final run to the finish…
“The game begins now, as I am now about 7 miles to the West of PRB and so we’re virtually on the same longitude as we head towards Cape Finisterre 300 miles ahead of us on the route. I’m in a controlling position to his North, he should be sailing faster than me but he’s sailing lower. It’s easy to say that all I have to do is stay between him and the finish line, but it’s going to be a difficult 36 hours ahead of us, not least because we don’t get anymore positions for 12 hours now so I won’t know what he’s doing. There’s also a ridge of high pressure off Cape Finisterre, which will throw up light airs, they’ll probably be as low as 8 knots from the south or just east of south, and as I get to them first, I’ll slow down first, and the concertina effect will happen. We’ll hit this tonight or tomorrow morning and it’ll last for a whole day I reckon. The big decision will be at Cape Finisterre, where the option will be either to go offshore and then hang a right into La Rochelle with the Westerlies, or to go inshore up the Bay of Biscay to the finish. I’m not giving any more away! Right now I’m in preparation mode, checking round the boat, looking at the weather and my tactics, and stacking up on sleep as I doubt I’ll get any after tomorrow…but I am ready for it and going for the bullet.”
Although Alex Thomson still has three days to go until he comes back to land, he did come back to earth with a bang yesterday after setting a new World Speed Sailing Record (subject to ratification), when all his instruments – and autopilot – failed: “I was exhausted yesterday morning, so as soon as I heard back from my shore team that I had broken the record, I just said, right I’m off to bed! I slept for a couple of hours but when I woke up something didn’t feel right, and then I saw that the instruments had all gone down during my nap. The vertical wind anemometer at the top of the mast had snapped and this lead to the other instruments shorting out whilst I was asleep. Nightmare! Then the autopilot went as I was at the chart table, and I had to dash outside wearing only oilskin bottoms and shoes to grab the helm just as the boat went into a broach with the Code 5 and reefed index flying in 32 knots of breeze! I got thoroughly soaked and pissed off! I had to roll the Code 5, and then stop the boat as the second pilot wouldn’t work. The boat was dead in the water for an hour and a half until I got the pilot going and unfurled the Code 5 again. To think I could have been 15 miles further ahead – how beautiful would that be! Well, I’ve had my fair share of good luck, and if this is my only problem then I am grateful.”
“So last night I had to sleep in short intervals as with no wind instruments, I’ve got to stay out on deck most of the time to trim the boat to the smallest wind shift, as even a ten degree difference in wind direction can be difficult to tell but it’s crucial for boat speed. I have had time though to read through all the emails I got in response to my record – I’m very touched by all the messages, so thanks to everyone – I even got one from Dominique Wavre, who is the current record holder, how cool is that? I spoke to Bilou in the end as well, and he was like “Wow, Alex!” on the phone but he thought I was crazy when I told him I was flying the Code 5 on autopilot in 35 knots! He’s chuffed to bits for me, though, and told me to go and beat PRB! How’s that for a Frenchman telling me to beat another French guy?! I have to say after my sleep I woke up this morning and felt brilliant, over the moon again, so I took a photo of me at sunrise in my happy state for everyone! I probably look a little crazed with the wide eyes and stubble – what d’you think??
“Well, breaking the record hasn’t really sunk in properly, I’ve still got to get to the finish – and try and win this race! But I think it will really hit me when I cross the line and see everyone again – there’s going to be a lot of people at the finish, aren’t there? Hmmm. And I guess all the French media too? Pierrick, the French guy who does the satellite phone interviews with the skippers from the Paris Boat Show everyday, he told me they’ve been all over this race, and are all so excited about my record. The press over there are definitely more enthusiastic as solo racing is their sport, the French have always dominated for so long. Well, that’s gonna change from now on…!”
And finally…Alex had a few special words to say about the love of his life…his boat of course! “I can’t tell you, she is the best boat I have ever sailed on! I’m so lucky, I’ve ended up with exactly the right partner, she’s the most beautiful boat. I know her strengths and weaknesses, and Bilou showed me how to take care of her. I’ve always felt that if you look after your boat, she’ll look after you. Well I can’t wait to look after her, she’s looked after me so well during the race and done me proud – I LOVE HER!”
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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