Betreff: TJV: WATERSPOUT, FLYING FISH, FAST REACHING SOON THE TRADES!
Absender: "Team Cowes"
Datum: 07. Nov 2003 18:31
BEAM REACHING - 15-20 KNOTS OF WIND S - 13.4 KNOTS BOATSPEED - 500 MILES NE
OF CANARY ISLANDS - TEAM COWES 5TH 161 MILES BEHIND LEADER ECOVER (1700GMT)
IN BRIEF:
* CLOSE CALL WITH A LARGE, FAST-MOVING WATERSPOUT THIS MORNING... "we
realised it was a waterspout coming straight for us! It was ripping up the
surface of the sea - just sucking it up..."
* MAYBE ONE MORE DEPRESSION BEFORE TEAM COWES is released from the upwind
conditions that have dogged the Open 60 monohull fleet since the start 6 days
ago. The fleet have been able to enjoy some good reaching conditions today
but Sam reported during the audio conference this afternoon: "Hoping to reach
the Trade Winds soon but lining up for one more depression..."
* DIFFICULT TACTICAL DECISION Ahead TO FIND THE TRADES...weather router Meeno
gives TEAM COWES skippers two possible options of staying closer to the rhumb
line which may be faster or to take a more western route, benefiting from the
stronger gradient westerly breeze further down the race track...
CONFERENCE CALL TO TEAM COWES 1400GMT - SAM DAVIES:
[On seeing a waterspout this morning...] "We were sailing along - Nick was
helming and I was asleep - Nick yelled out that there was a big squall coming
so I jumped up to go on deck. Then five minutes later we realised it was a
water spout coming straight for us! It was ripping up the surface of the sea
- just sucking it up... We were thinking what shall we do - we needed to
drop some sail so we furled the genoa and put 2 reefs in the index.
Eventually, it passed in front of us about 200 meters away - not really close
enough to video, unfortunately - then it just dissipated. Luckily it didn't
hit us so we didn't get damaged. Would have been interesting to see what
might have happened! It was frustrating because we scared ourselves and
didn't know whether to put more reefs in in case of another squall so we lost
some distance there.
Right now, we have 15-20 knots [from NW], beam reaching with 1 reef in the
index and genoa. It's pretty bumpy and the sun is shining and it's still a
bit squally. It is probably the best day so far...
We are still not out of our survival suits yet - the air is still very cold
although the water is warmer but it is soaking wet on deck all the time. We
are both still on standby for each other [rather than being 'off' watch]
because of the squalls.
Hoping to reach the Trade Winds soon but lining up for one more depression.
Haven't really dared look where the Trades start but at least we are not
going upwind anymore and going fast in the right direction. Once the boat is
flatter and drier we will sort out a couple of problems with the boat but
nothing major.
We saw our first flying fish yesterday - it was massive, at least half-meter
wing span but luckily it didn't hit us. It will be good to get out of our
survival suits and let the skin breath a bit.
The boat is fantastic it just feels like you can do anything and not worry
about what the wind or sea throws at you. She just feels so strong and can
just keep on going flying off the waves. Really, really nice to sail like
this.
We crossed with VMI yesterday...we knew they were close and VMI were sailing
lower and a bit slower. It motivates you when you actually see another
boat...makes you double-check everything with your own set up like sail
configuration, strategy & angles. In some ways, I miss not being able to see
the other boats as it can push you on.
But it is really close for a race like this... Right now on Maxsea I can see
9 boats that are all so close to each other, all charging south... It must be
good for people following it from the shore. Being this close is going to
make it really, really tactical.
We don't have anything crazy planned [to attack the lead] but just plan to
keep pushing, looking after ourselves, sail the boat hard and mile by mile
reel in the boats ahead. We will slowly, slowly work it like that because we
still have 3,000 miles more to race. We will hang in there and not get left
behind to get in the top 3.
Last couple of days the new pressure has come from the west and when the
fronts go through they can slow down a bit and perhaps Sill had the chance to
get out of them more quickly and go charging off. We always have an idea of
where the best pressure gradiant is - we have two longitudinals to aim
between tonight to be in the strongest gradiant. So we always have an area
we are aiming for given to us by Meeno [weather router for Team Cowes].
We are steering nearly all the time as you can't leave the boat on autopilot
because we're 'sending it'. Right now, Nick is making 16 knots of speed over
the ground but I did 25 knots earlier and Nick is trying to beat it all the
time!
It's just great, I am loving it..."
TOP 10 OPEN 60 POSITIONS AT 1700GMT 7.11.03:
Pstn/Boat Name/Long/Lat/Speed/Course/DTF/DTL
1 ECOVER / 32 27.84' N / 20 02.16' W / 14.8 / 172 / 2952.8 / 0.0
2 VIRBAC / 32 23.28' N / 18 54.28' W / 15.1 / 207 / 2970.0 / 17.2
3 SILL / 34 22.16' N / 22 15.68' W / 16.9 / 204 / 3024.3 / 71.5
4 PRB / 34 06.40' N / 20 14.80' W / 15.9 / 200 / 3043.0 / 90.3
5 TEAM COWES / 35 21.04' N / 20 07.24' W / 13.4 / 215 / 3114.6 / 161.9
6 VMI / 35 07.60' N / 19 00.08' W / 14.5 / 200 / 3115.2 / 162.4
7 CHEMINEES POUJOULAT-ARMOR LUX / 36 24.48' N / 21 26.40' W / 13.5 / 183 /
3130.9 / 178.1
8 CARREFOUR PREVENTION / 35 57.24' N / 19 20.28' W / 13.8 / 217 / 3162.0 /
209.3
9 ARCELOR-DUNKERQUE / 37 02.40' N / 17 15.00' W / 15.7 / 197 / 3233.6 / 280.8
10 GARNIER / 37 55.80' N / 17 06.72' W / 11.6 / 200 / 3312.3 / 359.6
For TJV race information go to http://www.jacques-vabre.com
NOTES:
Skandia Set Sail: making sailing more accessible; growing the sport's reach;
enriching people's lives.
Skandia is the title sponsor to Sam Davies' 2003 Figaro Campaign
Skandia Cowes Week is the oldest and largest sailing regatta in the world
with up to 1000 boats racing in the Solent. Skandia Cowes Week 2004 takes
place between 7th to 14th August.
Skandia is a leading international long term savings company.
http://www.skandia.com
Cowes Waterfront is a major regeneration initiative for the Medina Valley,
encompassing the towns of Cowes, East Cowes and Newport Harbour on the Isle
of Wight. It aims to strengthen the Island's position as a centre of
excellence for the composites and specialist marine sectors by providing the
resources and infrastructure that businesses need. It will bring new life
and new visitors to town centres by attracting modern leisure and
recreational facilities, including hotels, restaurants and cafes and promote
the area as 'the home of world yachting'.
http://www.coweswaterfront.co.uk
|
