JULES VERNE DAY 1 : 1500GMT NEWSFLASH - NO SAIL UP BUT DOING 20 KNOTS!
Absender: "Team Kingfisher"
Datum: 30. Jan 2003 15:48
In a conversation with crewman Andrew Preece at 1430GMT he reported that - "We have 50 knots of breeze, we have no sails up whatsoever but are still surfing along at 20 knots - it is pretty extreme out here."
The background noise was horrendous as KINGFISHER2 hurtled down the waves at 20 knots - the waves are steep up to 6 metres. Conditions on board for the crew are difficult both on deck and below - needing a hand-hold to move around any part of the boat or risk being thrown around.
KINGFISHER2 is halfway across the Bay of Biscay and is dealing with these conditions due to a cold front that swept the UK south coast earlier today, although it is expected to pass through 5-6 hours from now. Behind the front the conditions will still be very windy but will see a significant decrease in the next 12 hours.
Preece also reported that - "some media equipment on board had been damaged when the emergency escape hatch in the port hull was blown open by the force of the waves." But the 14 crew were expecting these conditions whilst crossing the Bay of Biscay and despite the extreme weather KINGFISHER2 is heading down their desired track averaging over 20 knots.
KINGFISHER2's weather router Meeno Schrader: "We knew we were going to be heading into a first difficult 24 hours but the pressure to leave came from the weather window we need to hook into in 2 days off the coast of Spain. The guys will still have windy conditions tonight and tomorrow morning but will decrease during the day tomorrow."
By this evening they should reach Cape Finistere and warmer climes in the next few days.
JULES VERNE DAY 1: KINGFISHER2 ON HER WAY AT HIGH SPEED
Absender: "Team Kingfisher"
Datum: 30. Jan 2003 11:48
SUMMARY : at 0648GMT 30.01.03
Position : crossed start line
Distance to go : 24,712 nautical miles (theoretical distance)
Distance to Cape Finistere : 388nm
Ahead/Behind Record : n/a
Maximums so far : 37.1 knots of boatspeed, 48 knots of wind
IN BRIEF:
* KINGFISHER2 crossed the Jules Verne start line off Ushant (NW France) at 06:48:49 GMT this morning...in her first hour she covered nearly 30 miles of the 26,000 mile course around the globe.
* Her maximum speed so far (data is sent back every 2 hours) has been a giant 37.1 knots, with maximum wind speed of 47.5 knots...its not cruising out there!
* KINGFISHER2 must re-cross Jules Verne line 1 second before 1525GMT and 13 seconds on 4th April to break existing record set by Bruno Peyron but 'Geronimo' now on day 19 of their Jules Verne attempt are 2 days ahead of Peyron's time.
IN DETAIL:
Ellen MacArthur and her 13 strong crew onboard KINGFISHER2 surfed across the start line of the Jules Verne Challenge at 0648 and 49seconds (GMT) this morning.
After months of preparation, and an exhausting 24 hour unscheduled pitstop in Plymouth, passing the start line came as a great relief to Ellen her crew -
"The feeling on board is one of relief and excitement - it's just so fantastic to take this on now," said MacArthur half an hour after the start. "As we left Plymouth yesterday evening, everyone was saying this is it now, this feels right - so I guess that's a good sign.
"We've got breeze of about 35-40 knots (the boats instruments recorded a guest of 48 knots during the night) and boat speed is quick from 25-30 knots so we're shifting pretty quickly - the sea state though is quite rough. Conditions will stay similar for today 35-40 knots so should make good speed - winds going to go slightly round more to the left (west) and some quite strong gusts but on the whole drop to 30-35 knots this evening.
"Life on deck is pretty rough and very cold - when the watch crew are on deck everyone is holding onto a line ready to release it or ready to change sail so really on our toes in this wind..."
If the existing record (Bruno Peyron, May 2002, 64 days 8 hours 37 minutes 24 seconds) were to reindex the time to beat, then KINGFISHER2 would need to re-cross the Jules Verne line at least 1 second before 1525 and 13 secs on the 4th of April. However, Olivier de Kersauson and his French crew onboard the 34-metre trimaran GERONIMO are currently 2 days ahead of the pace set by Peyron, having set off on January 11th - so the pressure is on, and the time to beat may well be significantly lower.
Conditions onboard are pretty tough this morning - they crossed the line in the pitch black of a cold and gale strewn night in the Atlantic Ocean. They will expect to see many days like this in the Southern Ocean, but first they will hope to make good progress towards the warmer climes near the Equator. The reference time to beat for this leg, Ushant to the Equator, was set just a week ago by GERONIMO at 6 days 11 hours 26 minutes and 21 seconds. The first reference point on their way south will be Cape Finistere, at the north west tip of Spain, some 400 miles away. They will expect to pass this landmark, made more complicated by the wreck and spillage from the Prestige oil tanker, during tonight if all goes well.
PERFORMANCE PARTNER OF THE DAY:
SONY : Sony is providing IT and digital imaging equipment for the KINGFISHER2, including a wireless network on board for the first time, display all the digital information the crew needs to attempt to break the Jules Verne record and enable the boat and crew to reindex in contact with its UK base, families, supporters and the media at all times.
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