Jules Verne Rekord 2003 www.kingfisherchallenges.com - zur Übersicht JV DAY 8: MEDIA UPDATE 1600GMT Absender: "Team Kingfisher" Datum: 06. Feb 2003 16:40 SUMMARY: 1500 GMT 6.2.03 Position: 0 43' N 25 28' W (43 nm from Equator) Av/Max boat speed in last hour: 2.66 / 6.98 knots Av/Max wind speed in last hour: 3.07 / 7.00 knots Wind direction: 243 Distance to Equator: 43 nm (theorectical shortest distance) The final miles to the Equator are proving to be painstaking - KINGFISHER2 is making slow progress in a breeze just averaging 3 knots in the last hour. Temperatures on board are high - frustrated by the lack of wind and the 29 degree water temperature. At this speed it will take Ellen and her crew another 15 hours before crossing into the Southern Hemisphere. Weather router Meeno Schrader explains the weather dilemma facing KINGFISHER2 once they cross the Equator: "The Trade Winds are expected to fill in from the SE between 15-17 knots and hold steady down to about 20 degrees south giving the guys a good, fast run. But it is at around 20 degrees south that they will have to deal with the St Helena high pressure zone and it is not going to be easy to pass through. The high will be separated into two different 'bubbles' - one is positioned over the SE Atlantic and the second over the west part of the South Atlantic (a good 800 nm SE of Rio de Janeiro). The second bubble prevents KINGFISHER2 from cutting the corner by taking a more direct course south of South Africa and also is at threat from a developing frontal system from the SW which will weaken the winds and further complicate the situation for KINGFISHER2 if she is in this area at 25 degrees south on Sunday night. "But we also see a new high pressure approaching from South America to strengthen behind the front moving along 35 degrees south into the east. Everything is on this high to push the front away and move fast into the east then this could offer the guys the chance to make a proper 'run through' into the Roaring 40's without having gone too far west and the long way round." EQUATOR RECORD: Geronimi set a new Ushant-Equator record of 6 days, 11 hours, 26 minutes, 21 seconds. For KINGFISHER2 to beat the Ushant to Equator time set by Orange of 7 days, 22 hours, KINGFISHER2 must cross the Equator 1 second before 04:48:00 GMT on Friday 7.2.03. JULES VERNE RECORD: KINGFISHER2 started Jules Verne record attempt at 06:48:39 GMT on 30.1.03. To beat the existing 'Orange' record of 64 days 8 hours 37 minutes 24 seconds, KINGFISHER2 must finish 1 second before 15:25:13 GMT on 4th April or less if GERONIMO lowers the record. http://www.grandsrecords.com JV DAY 8: KINGFISHER2 Ahead OF ORANGE RECORD - GERONIMO NEARLY HALF-WAY... Absender: "Team Kingfisher" Datum: 06. Feb 2003 10:08 SUMMARY: 0700 GMT 6.2.03 Position: 1 49' N 25 23' W (109 nm to the Equator) Ahead/Behind the record: 0 hours 29 minutes ahead Orange Ahead/behind Geronimo : 14 hours behind Geronimo’s pace DAY 7 24 hour run (point to point) : Kingfisher2 418 nm, Orange 401 nm, Geronimo 419 nm End DAY 7 distance to go (on theoretical course) : KF2 21760 nm, Orange 21768 nm, Geronimo 21538 nm Click on POSITIONS link at http://www.teamkingfisher.com to see graphic images comparing the tracks of these 3 challengers at 4 hourly intervals. Av/Max boat speed in last hour: 13.43 / 19.8 knots Av/Max wind speed in last hour: 10.2 / 16.45 knots IN BRIEF: * KINGFISHER2 MOVE Ahead OF ORANGE RECORD by 29 minutes after one week of their Jules Verne record attempt but still 14 hours behind Geronimo's fast pace. Geronimo is nearly half-way round as they approach Cape Leeuwin (off sw tip of Australia) - their pace has been fast and consistent especially in the Southern Ocean sector. Although the official Jules Verne record time is set by Orange, the team are not taking their eyes off the pace of Olivier de Kersauson. * NO SLEEP FOR THE SKIPPER AND ROUTER as Ellen and Meeno do an all nighter poring over the satellite pictures trying to pick a way through the Doldrums, the band of unstable and unpredictable winds (or lack of) near the Equator. "Its like hacking your way through the jungle, you might roughly know where the exit is, but the route through is never very obvious, and certainly hard to predict too much in advance...so far we at least have not completely stopped," commented a tired Ellen this morning. "I've only been on deck for 30 minutes in the last 24 hours...that's quite frustrating...and hot!" * JUST OVER 100 MILES TO GO TO THE EQUATOR AT 0700GMT, with KINGFISHER2 ahead of ORANGE's time set to the Equator by 14 hours, but 21 hours behind Geronimo's record breaking run to the Equator from the start. KINGFISHER2 estimated to CROSS THE EQUATOR at approx 1500GMT today. * BIGGEST CHALLENGE though lays ahead. First of all the wind should fill in from the east as KINGFISHER2 reaches the South East Trade Winds (upwind rather than downwind like the past few days), but the real issue is how to cross the South Atlantic High Pressure system - a massive area of light winds stretching 3000 miles across the ocean ahead. Once past this, the Southern Ocean and its depressions await the team, but this is some way away... * CROSSING THE LINE CEREMONIES PLANNED for Andrew and Kevin as they will hopefully cross the Equator for the first time later this morning...particularly harsh punishments are likely in this traditional offering to Neptune... * CREW MEMBER FOCUS: Hendo (Andrew Henderson) first raced with Ellen on board Kingfisher in the EDS Atlantic Challenge in 2001 as part of five crew on a boat made for one... Kingfisher operating company of the day NOMI: NOMI is one of Poland's leading Home Improvement retailers. http://www.nomi.com.pl LATEST AUDIO FROM ELLEN at 0500 GMT today (communications hosted by BT): Listen to a very tired Ellen...visit http://www.teamkingfisher.com and click on the 'Audio' icon on the menu bar or download from http://www.ocftp.com/audio/em060203a_uk.mp3 "Meeno pulled an all-nighter in the office and we have been talking quite a lot about what;s going on. It's been a pretty tough 24 hours for me - thre is always a lot to do but right now seems even more. The day seems to fill up quickly with navigation, interviews, email, phonecalls and all sorts. Today has been a prime example - managed to get on deck for just half an hour when I was eating some lunch and then another 45 minutes fixing the indexsail baton. Rest of the time is spent in the nav station where its stinking hot - water temperature is now 28 degrees - and not a lot of ventilation. Right now we're approaching the lightest of the light wind zone with the wind in the northern sector due to swing to the east - probably more than we thought - so ENE and very light, then we will come into the SE Trades, so we're waiting for that rotation. Still have 10 knots of breeze, clear skies so breeze steady. Once we get further south to about 1 degree north we hit the higher cloud mass which is shifting all the time but hoping for not too much activity. In the Doldrums it is actually worse during the day than night because the heat causes more cloud activity and can stop us even more. Hoping to reach the Equator in about 7-8 hours time.” ELLEN LATEST LOG at 1915GMT 5.2.03 (communications hosted by BT): Hi all... Latest news from Kingfisher 2... well tonight we are approacing the Equator, and the temperature inside as well as my temperatuer seems to be rising. I feel very stressed today - tense and worried. I know that just a few hundred miles before us is a zone which could really slow us, could - like so many of the traps before us take valuable time from us... The South Atlantic is not looking as favourable as it could for us which is frustrating and worrying, but at the end of the day we just have to keep on trucking and hope that it is not as damaging to our speed as I fear. As I sit here typing I am hot and sweaty - after another day before the satellite images and weather information. It's been a busy day - and almost impossible to think that I have been on deck for less than an hour. I had a brief chat with Kevin over lunch - as we sat in the cuddy to leeward, and shortly after briefed the guys on the weather situation ahead of us - but that's been it for today - no staring at the ocean, nor helming this magnificent machine. Now the day is drrawing to an end and I know that I'll be one tired Ellen tonight... I wish I'd been able to recover further today but strangely, like solo sailing, some days are much harder than others. Today has been a hard one. From computer problems, to lack of sleep - and all in an environment where the air teperature is stifling - and the plastic seat beneath me making me stick to my shorts. The guys are all of great humour and it's great to spend time with them whenever I can. Hervé was jokingly told off today for being scruffy - after he spilled some chocolote down his t-shirt. His retaliation was to draw a large tie on his t-shirt in red pen, which he very proudly sported during his watch! Nice one Hervé! Both steering systems have now been refurbished, and appear to be working well which is great news and a big thanks on that one must go to Hendo, Youngster, Ronny and Jason who have worked hard on finding a feasible and constructible solution.... There is a growing conversation onboard about the crossing of the Equator ceremony for poor Andrew and Kevin who have not yet crossed. I am not sure what is in store for them yet but I am convined that we shall not let them cross without some kind of event to mark the occasion. Hervé was not so keen on being the master of ceremony, but it's old hat for him - we calculated he had already crossed at least 25 times... So, there you go, news from the mighty KINGFISHER2 - who as I type is at 288nm from the equator. ellen ex USHANT (START) TO EQUATOR TIMES FOR SUCCESSFUL JULES VERNE ATTEMPTS: 1993 Cmmodore Explorer (Peyron) 8 days 19 hours 26 minutes 1994 ENZA (Blake/Knox-Johnston) 7 days 4 hours 24 minutes 1997 Sport Elec (de Kersauson) 11 days 2 hours 2002 Orange (Peyron) 7 days 22 hours OMEGA official timekeeper of KINGFISHER2'S Jules Verne record attempt CREW MEMBER FOCUS: Hendo (aka Andrew Henderson) - Rigger Hendo (30) is Australian and you know it as he signs off "cop you later"! Hendo first joined the Team Kingfisher project back in the summer of 2001 as part of the crew for the EDS Atlantic Challenge - a five leg crewed race including two trans-Atlantics. Kingfisher was co-skippered by Ellen and Hendo's fellow Australian Nick Moloney who raced Kingfisher to victory in the final trans-Atlantic leg. Since then Hendo has become a regular member of Team Kingfisher. Hendo worked extensively on the preparation of KINGFISHER2 and was a crewman on board her as Orange in the Round Britain and Ireland attempt. Hendo's philosphy for doing a Jules Verne is quick and easy: "The Jules Verne has it all - you get to send this weapon of a yacht at speed around the world with a bunch of your mates." Email Hendo direct on board KINGFISHER2 at hendorace@kingfisherchallenges.com PARTNER OF THE DAY - NAUTIX: Nautix are the official supplier of wunderwater finishings to KINGFISHER2. http://www.teamkingfisher.com/nautix Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE