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5. Vendee Globe 2004/2005
www.vendeeglobe.org - zur Übersicht
13.11.2004
Press Release
Saturday 13th November 2004 / 3 p.m. GMT
Ranking at 1500 GMT 13 November 2004
Bonduelle (Jean Le Cam) : 21, 779,3 nm from finish
PRB (Vincent Riou) : 1,6 nm from leader
VMI (Sebastien Josse) 24,5 nm from the leader
A War of Nerves!
- In the rankings issued at 15h00 GMT, Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) was in fourth place, 27 miles from the new leader Jean Le Cam (Bonduelle). Vincent Riou (PRB) has lost his lead for the first time and falls in to second place 1,6 miles behind the leader.
- Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) faced some delicate work having to climb up the mast to lower his spinnaker, which had been stuck up there for three days.
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Passage der Kapverden
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- Mike Golding (Ecover) is continuing on his westerly option and losing precious miles on the group leading the field at 15h00 GMT.
- The fleet can be split into three. The first group of six is spread out over 70 odd miles, a second group of nine over 150 miles and finally, a third group of five boats is spread over 170 miles.
The leading group has bunched closer together, as they approach the Cape Verde Islands, which are some 200 miles away from the leaders. A group of six has broken away and during the night and the day today, there have been some changes. Vincent Riou (PRB), who has been leading the fleet until the latest position report at 15h00 GMT, has been lost his lead to Jean Le Cam (Bonduelle) who this morning was 3.3 miles behind and gaining. Mike Golding (Ecover) checked in 76.3 miles behind the leader and is still on his route out west. Stuck in a zone with fairly unstable winds, this group is making headway towards the south at an average speed of 10 knots and should soon pick up a northeasterly flow with the trade winds, which should be felt later this evening. Conrad Humphreys (Hellomoto) is 250,7 miles from the leader, and his option hasn’t yet paid off to the extent that he lost his index spinnaker early yesterday morning.
While the leaders gathered down below the Canaries, the fleet has now split into three. The first group of six is spread over 70 miles, with a second group of nine over 150 miles and, finally, a third group of five over 170 miles. Each group is sailing in very different weather systems, so each is now aiming at something different from the others. The leader group is trying to make headway south to get out of this buffer zone between the high-pressure area they have experienced for the last few days and the trade winds, which should soon be picking up. So to get some fresher winds, they have had to head off east, which is what Alex Thomson is currently doing aboard Hugo Boss, as he follows the three boats in front of him, Jean Le Cam (Bonduelle), Vincent Riou (PRB) and Sebastien Josse (VMI). Mike Golding (Ecover) has chosen a different strategy, which is a long-term plan, as he is staying to the west. He is finding less wind, dropping back from the leaders, but knows that sooner or later, they will have to head off west to get through the Doldrums. Today, with some 825 miles left to go before reaching what will be one of the major hurdles of the Vendée Globe, Mike Golding (Ecover) is counting on it taking 2-3 days. He is followed on this course by Roland Jourdain (Sill et Véolia), now in fifth place.
Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) had to climb up his mast to unhook his spinnaker, the halyard of which had been stuck up there for three days. Wrapped its sock, the spinnaker was fortunately not damaged. Alex will have to go back up once again to check on the halyard and the sheave to do any repairs that are necessary. That will mean that by this evening the British yachtsman will have been up his mast four times since the start of the race.
While the Canaries were passed by the majority of the boats on their western side, Conrad Humphreys (Hellomoto) was the first to dare to pass between the islands. This choice wasn’t to his advantage in the short term, especially seeing that Conrad has lost his index spinnaker, which was torn and got wrappen under the keel. With the leaders 250 miles ahead, Hellomoto is currently heading out to the west and increasing his boat speed in the trades that are blowing along the African coast. He now fighting back to gain some ground lost in the last few days over the leading group.
The weather for the next few days shows signs of improvement, making sailing somewhat easier. In fact, the north-easterly trades are picking up along the African coast, and the leader group should reach them late today. The boats that are coming up behind, like Nick Moloney’s Skandia, should not be slowed down as much as those leading the way and should pick up the trades at the same time.
Quotes :
Vincent Riou (PRB) :
«I don’t have any other choice, but it’s not very nice to be in front in such wind conditions. Early last night, things were difficult and I came to a halt for 2-3 hours, which allowed the other boats to creep up on me. We’re not yet out of the buffer zone between the north-easterlies from the start and the trades, but that should be happening this evening. The trades won’t be very strong either, so it looks like quiet weather until the Doldrums.»
Jean Le Cam (Bonduelle) :
«I shan’t complain. I slept for at least 6 hours. I hadn’t had a good night’s sleep for at least five days. For the moment, I’ve got a little wind, but I won’t be doing anything too clever. For the time being, this race is one for you, then one for me. I’ve just had my turn!».
Source : Mer & Médias
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International Media
Sabina Mollart-Rogerson
Ophélie Théron
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