28.11.2004
Press release
Sunday 28th November 2004/3 p.m. GMT
1500 GMT 28 november 2004
1. PRB (Vincent Riou) 18 013,6 miles from the finish
2. Bonduelle (Jean Le Cam) 11,7 miles from the leader
3. Sill et Veolia (Roland Jourdain) 368,2 miles from the leader
Mike Golding and Alex Thomson at the gates to the south, promotion in the rankings for Nick Moloney !
- Vincent Riou (PRB) et Jean Le Cam (Bonduelle) are in the lead on the 22nd day of the race. Vincent has a lead of 368,2 miles over the third placed yachtsman, Roland Jourdain (Sill et Veolia) in the 3 p.m. rankings.
- In the 3 p.m. rankings, Mike Golding (Ecover) is in fifth place, 562 miles from the leader, Vincent Riou (PRB). Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) is sixth, Nick Moloney (Skandia) 7th and Conrad Humphreys (Hellomoto) 11th.
- Mike Golding (Ecover) and Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) are still in the transition system between the St. Helena high and the lows moving around the South.
- A fine day’s sailing for Nick Moloney (Skandia), who has moved from 9th to 7th place since yesterday.
There are four of them sailing now in the typical weather system of the Deep South, where the low-pressure areas follow each other one after the other. Vincent Riou (PRB), Jean Le Cam (Bonduelle), Roland Jourdain (Sill et Veolia) and Sébastien Josse (VMI) have dived straight in since yesterday. Grey skies, freshening westerlies with each low passing over, albatrosses in the wake of the boats, waves with a long, 6-8 metre high swell: the South has just opened its gates and will be welcoming the sailors for a month. Vincent Riou (PRB) and Jean Le Cam (Bonduelle) are still neck and neck and have given themselves a comfortable lead of around 360 miles over the second couple in this Vendée Globe, Roland Jourdain (Sill et Veolia) and Sébastien Josse (VMI). The speeds are currently between 14 and 18 knots, the boots and waterproofs are out, the temperature is falling and water is starting to cover the deck.
Behind, Mike Golding (Ecover) and Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) are continuing their journey in a transitionary system between the end of the St. Helena high and the series of lows. The westerly wind is currently blowing at 10-15 knots and the sailors are making headway, while getting their boats ready before diving into the stormy world. At 3 p.m. today, Mike Golding (Ecover) was 562 miles from the leader and Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) 267,60 miles from his fellow countryman. Mike won’t be feeling the first effects of the areas of low pressure until tomorrow evening or Tuesday.
The star performance of the day belongs to Nick Moloney (Skandia), who stole back more than 80 miles during the day from Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec). He took his seventh place in the rankings and is currently 965,8 miles from the leader. Nick had a fabulous night last night and covered more than 200 miles in 24 hours. The others stuck in the high just a few miles from him made headway at between 2 and 5 knots, while he was sailing at 9 knots. However, Nick hasn’t finished yet with the high-pressure area, as the limit of the low-pressure systems is still 500 miles to his south. We can also point out the fine position that Bruce Schwab (Ocean Planet) is now in, as way off to the west, he should not be held up like his fellow competitors in the high. He is in the process of rounding it on the western side and has already made it back up with the 13th placed sailor, Hervé Laurent aboard UUDS. Bruce is 8,3 miles from the frontrunners.
While the leaders still continue to surf, thanks to the influence of the first low, which is pushing them along towards the tip of South Africa, at the tail end the group of five, including Norbert Sedlacek (Brother) is continuing to benefit from an east-north-easterly blowing on the edge of the high. This group shouldn’t be slowed down too much, as a low is forming off the coast of Uruguay. This may well allow them to glide along towards the south without making the « stopover » that those in front of them have just experienced.
Quotes :
Mike Golding (Ecover) :
«Maybe I haven’t sailed as well as I should have. As you lose confidence, the worse it gets. The St. Helena high was jsut the worst point of the race for me. It isn’t justified that the two leaders should get such a lead. I’ve had a nice sailing day today and am enjoying making progress at last. Further on, I’m looking forward to it. Let’s get on with it!"
Nick Moloney (Skandia) :
"It’s whether you position yourself to the north, to the south or in the middle of the winds that will determine what happens over the next few days. The first two weather systems are coming one right after the other. Bang, bang. Very close together with some strong headwinds. It isn’t going to be easy for us."
Vincent Riou (PRB) :
«I had a tough night as I hit a floating object. My rudder came up and the boat went over. It took me half an hour to get everything sorted. I’m not worried about being in the south. However, the change in just 48 hours is brutal. We have gone from sunshine to not very warm weather. The boat is sailing away again nicely and I’m getting used to sailing at 15 knots ! There are three albatrosses following me now!».
Jean Le Cam (Bonduelle) :
«I made a lot of adjustments to the sails during the night. A gybe, taking in a reef...A heavy swell has built up. We’re well and truly in a different weather system. Wow, I’m just managing 18.4 knots at the moment. That’s fine for now, but in three days time, we may think it’s sheer hell. When you see the height of the swell, it’s great, but if you add on 10 knots of wind, you’re not going to be boasting about it. We’ll be leaving the first low tomorrow night, and a second will be reaching us. There’s going to be more wind, but it’s going to be worse for those behind us.»
Roland Jourdain (Sill et Veolia) :
«I love this contrast we have seen over the last 24 hours. My first bomber, an albatross, has arrived accompanied by a lot of other birds. In the beginning, it’s a pleasure to be back here. You’re not yet in the thick of it. Then, in a month, you’ll be happy to turn left (editor’s note, at Cape Horn!). We’re not going to be boasting about the first two lows, and afterwards we’ll be used to it».
Source : Vendée Globe 2004
www.vendeeglobe.org
Vendée Globe Press Office Tél. : +33 1 55 56 66 50 - Fax : +33 1 55 56 62 90
@ : press@vendeeglobe.fr
French Media : Caroline Concetti, Anne Millet and Soazig Guého
International Media : Sabina Mollart-Rogerson, Ophélie Théron
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