Neujahr 2005
VG DAY 56: COULD YOU CLIMB THE MAST ON NEW YEAR’S DAY?!
MAN WITH A MISSION: Nick Moloney attempts to be the first to race around the globe in 3 disciplines, crewed with stops, fastest non-stop, solo non-stop
RACE POSITIONS 0930 GMT: SKANDIA 7th, still losing miles inevitably to the VIRBAC who is still steaming east on the depression in front, whilst Nick must wait for the next system to arrive to rescue him from the high pressure and light winds. BONDUELLE holding commanding lead of 262 miles over PRB as he approaches Cape Horn, just 2 days away.
RACE UPDATE DAY GOING IN TO 56th DAY
NO NEW YEAR’S HANGOVER ONBOARD SKANDIA, AS NICK SCALES THE 27METRE MAST: Lighter winds and a flatter sea gave Nick the first opportunity since the big storm to consider climbing the mast to replace the broken wind wand [since then Nick has been using an emergency wand at deck level, much less accurate, for wind strength – all this data feeds in to the performance of the autopilot]. An exhausting climb for any solo sailor, even in calm seas the masthead at 27 metres moves around a lot. With no-one else to haul you up, hold you there, or lower you down, this is undoubtedly one of the tougher manoeuvres to take alone.
Approx 2200gmt: ‘Very quick call to say I’m going to climb up the rig, I’ve got a soft patch, I’m going to get up there while I can get motivated to do it. I’ll phone you back.’
Then an hour and 15 minutes later...
‘I’ve done it and it works! Its all working [the wind data is now coming from the masthead correctly]. I had to freeclimb the last few metres and then lash myself to the masthead with a sail tie. Kept bouncing around, out and back against the rig. Whilst I was up there I saw two whales. Got back down, but it was hard, had to keep telling myself I can do it, I can do it. Got down and was pretty exhausted with relief and exhaustion. Hardest thing I’ve had to do this trip.’
EXHAUSTION EVIDENT ON SKANDIA WEBCAM – CLICK WEBCAM [Cabincam] at
http://www.nickmoloney.com
PROFORM OUT:
Marc Thierceln announced his abandon yesterday as he submitted finally to the long list of problems onboard PROFORM, including significant mast damage attained after he did a massive nose dive just before the Cape of Good Hope. That takes to 5 boats now the total number of abandons out of the 20 that started this marathon of marathon ocean races. Marc was on his 3rd Vendée Globe and his 4th race around the world solo – this the first time he has had to abandon. This is a very harsh race...
OC SAILING TEAM UPDATE:
Nick’s team mate ELLEN 2.5 days ahead of record in moderate winds now after freezing water temperatures yesterday gave iceberg fright http://www.teamellen.com
SKANDIA DATA LOG 0930 GMT: data brought to you by BT Business Broadband, transmitted via Thrane&Thrane
LAT/LONG: 47 03 S / 164 06 W
WIND: 10 knots from the WNW
POSITIONS 1000 GMT 1st JANUARY 2005
BOAT / LAT / LONG / distance to finish
1. BONDUELLE, 55 25.76' S / 85 49.28' W, 7644.4 distance to finish
2. PRB, 54 52.92' S / 93 27.00' W, 7906.6 distance to finish
3. ECOVER, 55 51.08' S / 95 46.92' W, 7970.0 distance to finish
7. SKANDIA, 47 02.76' S / 164 06.40' W, 10465.6distance to finish
For full positions report go to http://www.nickmoloney.com and follow the positions link
PARTNER OF THE DAY : B&G
Official marine electronics supplier to Nick and the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team
http://www.nickmoloney.com/bandg
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For more information visit http://www.nickmoloney.com or contact :
Helen King
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T : +44(0)870 063 0210
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Twenty years ago, Skandia pioneered MultiManager investment within long-term savings products - and we are now bringing the same pioneering spirit to our sponsorship of Nick Moloney.
Supporting the Skandia MultiManager campaign are three of Skandia's leading international fund management partners Invesco Perpetual, Gartmore Investment Managers and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.
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