Betreff: TJV: BATTLE FOR FINAL POSITIONS IN MONOS & MULTIS - FIRST WIN TO GROUPAMA IN MULTHULL CLASS...
Absender: "Team Cowes"
Datum: 16. Nov 2003 11:32
TJV: BATTLE FOR FINAL POSITIONS IN MONOS & MULTIS - FIRST WIN TO GROUPAMA IN MULTHULL CLASS...
TEAM COWES Transat Jacques Vabre campaign is supported by Skandia and Cowes Waterfront
UPWIND - 17 KNOTS OF WIND SE - 12.4 KNOTS BOAT SPEED - 60 MILES S EQUATOR - TEAM COWES 5TH 315 MILES BEHIND LEADER VIRBAC (0900GMT)
IN BRIEF:
* BATTLE FOR FINAL POSITIONS INTENSIFY IN FINAL STAGE OF RACE...only 0.6 of a mile separates TEAM COWES and VMI in the latest 0900 positions although they are over 120 miles apart east-west out on the ocean. PRB in 4th place this morning, 77 miles ahead of TEAM COWES: "VMI and PRB have a better angle to the wind right now and they are a littel faster...we need to hang in there until the breeze frees us so that we are still in touch for a final attack at the finish..."
* TEAM COWES CROSSES EQUATOR AT 0355GMT in 5th place this morning now sailing in 17 knots of south-east trade winds...850 miles to the finish.
* VIRBAC 529 MILES FROM THE FINISH IN BRAZIL ETA around midnight on Monday [17.11.03). Only 4 miles separating Ecover and Sill battling for second...
* FORECAST...wind forecast 17-19 knots from the south-east, 2.5m sea swell.
* ELLEN MACARTHUR & ALAIN GAUTIER move up a place now 67 miles ahead of Bonduelle in 10th overall.
Groupama wins ORMA 60 multihull division crossing the finish line off Salvador de Bahia at 0810GMT
this morning completing the race in 10 days, 23 hours, 10 minutes and 41 seconds averaging a boat speed of 16.49 knots. Foncia have 409 miles to go current ETA early tomorrow morning. http://www.teamellen.com
EMAIL LOG FROM TEAM COWES 0100GMT 16.11.03 - SAM DAVIES:
we are finally out of the squall activity that is associated with the doldrums. hooray.. it is pretty tiring going through these squalls (all of which seem to line themselves up with us for a direct hit every time.) the wind was gusting up to 45 knots, so you can imagine, it is a bit of a handful. we were changing sails for every squall, which meant little sleep and tiring work.
anyway, the doldrums turned out to be very easy as there were no patches of light wind like normal. in fact, the average windspeed was around 15 knots and minimum 9 knots (for about 10 minutes.) we were lucky. that was probably because we needed a patch of very light wind to sort out the code e gennaker which is currently unfurled and taking up just about the whole forepeak due to an incident yesterday. the furler line snapped during a squall and we had to do a kamakhaze drop (not very pretty at all, but funny after the event.)
so, apart from the code e, we are on 100% form, sailing as fast as possible to the finish. our race is not over, vmi and prb have a better angle to the wind right now and they are a littel faster. we need to hang in there until the breeze frees us so that we are still in touch for a final attack at the finish.
better go and get some rest.
sx
TOP 10 OPEN 60 POSITIONS AT 0900GMT 16.11.03:
Pstn/Boat Name/Long/Lat/Speed/Course/DTF/DTL
1 VIRBAC / 6 21.80' S / 32 45.80' W / 13.7 / 212 / 529.9 / 0.0
2 ECOVER / 4 11.64' S / 32 01.44' W / 13.1 / 207 / 661.8 / 131.9
3 SILL / 4 24.88' S / 31 35.40' W / 15.0 / 211 / 665.2 / 135.3
4 PRB / 2 55.28' S / 30 43.40' W / 13.9 / 204 / 768.3 / 238.4
5 TEAM COWES / 0 52.56' S / 31 53.20' W / 12.4 / 193 / 845.0 / 315.1
6 VMI / 1 56.84' S / 29 53.48' W / 13.6 / 210 / 845.3 / 315.4
7 CARREFOUR PREVENTION / 0 30.92' N / 30 24.04' W / 11.8 / 217 / 957.0 / 427.1
8 GARNIER / 6 02.20' N / 28 40.28' W / 5.6 / 191 / 1301.9 / 772.0
9 ARCELOR-DUNKERQUE / 4 03.00' N / 24 30.84' W / 10.3 / 190 / 1326.9 / 797.0
10 LOIRE ATLANTIQUE / 6 20.44' N / 24 25.28' W / 3.6 / 165 / 1440.5 / 910.6
PERFORMANCE PARTNER OF THE DAY: B&G
B&G are the official marine electronics supplier to the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team who for a number of years have provided invaluable feedback on the performance of the B&G pilots and instruments. This unique partnership and test platform is integral to the evolution of electronic systems. Development at this level ensures that the market gets the most robust, reliable and accurate solutions in the world.
http://www.offshorechallenges.com/b&g
For TJV Race Information go to 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. 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'. www.coweswaterfront.co.uk
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