23.12.2004
www.conradhumphreys.com
HELLOMOTO Race Update No. 36, 231204
A Colder Christmas for Conrad
Elapsed Time: 46 days, 01 hours, 15 mins
Fleet Leader: Bonduelle (J Le Cam FRA)
HELLOMOTO: 14th out of 16, 800m SW of Cape Leeuwin, Australia
• HELLOMOTO is trucking along scoring the highest boat speed in the fleet at 15 knots in more northerly winds this morning and has pulled back to within 200m of 13th placed ‘Roxy’ after being becalmed yesterday
• Conrad intends to gybe south later today with the forecast wind shift to the SW in order to cross the first ‘virtual gateway’ imposed by the race rules at 47S between 103 – 113 E
• HELLOMOTO is experiencing power issues, and Conrad gets covered in oil trying to find the source of the problem with his generator. All non-essential electrics have been shut off, including the heater, for the time being, and so Christmas will be a lot colder now too
• Watch SKY News at 1730GMT tonight (sorry if you watched last night!), and Conrad’s special Christmas message on BBC SW Spotlight News Sunday 26th December. Conrad will also be talking live to BBC Radio Devon at 0830GMT on their Christmas Day Breakfast Show. Listen to Conrad hosting his first radio show with DJ Matt Lissack on Plymouth Sound this Christmas Eve between 1 – 2pm on the ‘Interactive Lunch’ – www.musicradio.com
Conrad Humphreys interview from onboard HELLOMOTO this morning courtesy of Geolink/Iridium:
"HELLOMOTO is going along at 15 knots in a good breeze for now. The wind is more northerly but will swing back to the West and then eventually to the South West. In about 6 hours I’ll gybe south, then the breeze is due to swing back to the North West and build rapidly. I want to safely get North of the first of the Southern Ocean ‘gateways’ we have to pass at 47 S and between 103 and 113 E so that afterwards I have room to manoeuvre the boat with the incoming storm force conditions…
“…I can’t talk for long actually, as I’m just trying to work through some issues with my power supply. The generator is still working but making an odd noise so I’m just trying to get to the bottom of it so I can determine the problem and fix it. I’m literally covered in oil, my hands, clothing, face…and there’s black slippery stuff all over the floor too. As a precaution I’ve gone back to basics and shut off any non-essential electrics, so that includes the heater. I’m going to have to cut back on communications until I’ve sorted this out too. Last night I shivered in my sleeping bag as without a heater in the cabin, you come downstairs into an equally cold environment and once your body is cold it is really hard to get yourself warmed up again from the inside. I can fully empathise with Jean-Pierre Dick right now with his frostbitten fingers…it looks like my Christmas is going to be pretty cold now too.”
HELLOMOTO Position & Ranking* polled at 0930 GMT
Ranking / Boat / Latitude / Longitude / heading / Speed** / DTF*** / Miles from leader
1. Bonduelle / 55 58.96' S 176 58.04' W / 070 / 9.1 / 10703.7
13. Roxy / 45 43.64' S 94 39.00' E / 090 / 11.6 / 14035.7 / 3332
14. HELLOMOTO / 45 51.64' S 90 04.16' E / 082 / 15.5 / 14221.4 / 3517.7
*Rankings – A series of waypoints marking a logical route have been used to calculate the rankings. The boat is ranked according to the waypoint it is nearest to.
**Speed - this is an instantaneous reading
***DTF (Distance to finish) - This is worked out in comparison to the logical route
Full rankings – launch Race Console off the homepage and click on link to fleet positions
ENDS
Media enquiries: Mary Ambler
Communications Manager – Motorola Ocean Racing Team – Open 60 HELLOMOTO
Email: mary@o6t.com - Tel: +44 (0) 1752 600111 - Mob: +44 (0) 7887 643583
Motorola Ocean Racing Team web site
www.conradhumphreys.com – for all sports & news media enquiries & resources
Vendée Globe Official Race web site
www.vendeeglobe.org/uk
|
