26.11.2004
Trimaran title sponsor B&Q is the biggest DIY retailer in Europe and third biggest in the world. http://www.diy.com
B&Q GOES 'GREEN' PREPARING TO DEPART FALMOUTH TOMORROW....
IN BRIEF
* ELLEN MACARTHUR PLANNING TO DEPART FALMOUTH TOMORROW (SATURDAY 27.11.04) FOR POSSIBLE START ON SUNDAY (28.11.04)...
* "THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN PLANNING FOR, WORKING FOR AND WAITING FOR...WE HAVE A WEATHER WINDOW TO GO AND FOR WE ARE PLANNING TO TAKE IT..." More from Ellen below.
* WEATHER MODELS ARE SHOWING GOOD START CONDITIONS FOR SUNDAY MORNING...BUT WITH 36 HOURS TO GO TO POTENTIAL START THINGS CAN CHANGE...
* PICKING THE RIGHT WEATHER FOR THE START IS CRITICAL...IT IS THE ONLY TIME ELLEN CAN ACTUALLY HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER THE WEATHER SYSTEMS DURING THE WHOLE WAY AROUND THE WORLD!
* ELLEN IS SETTING OUT TO ATTEMPT TO SET A NEW SOLO, NON-STOP ROUND THE WORLD RECORD ON BOARD HER 75-FOOT TRIMARAN <>...
* IF ELLEN CROSSES THE LINE ON SUNDAY SHE WILL HAVE TO FINISH BY 9.2.05 TO SET A NEW RECORD...
* TIME TO BEAT 72 DAYS, 22 HOURS, 54 MINUTES AND 22 SECONDS SET BY FRENCHMAN FRANCIS JOYON...
***OMEGA OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER OF ELLEN MACARTHUR***
Follow Ellen's record attempt via the website Visit http://www.teamellen.com for all the latest information, see Race Viewer console for latest positions and animations, click on webcam to see 'live' images from onboard (when connected online) and updates from Ellen...
IN DETAIL:
B&Q skipper, Ellen MacArthur, confirmed today she will depart Falmouth (UK) tomorrow (Saturday 27.11.04) at approximately 1400 GMT to make her way to the start line area off Ushant (France). <> will leave her pontoon at Port Pendennis Marina next to the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth with her support crew to set-up the boat and allow Ellen to get some rest before crossing the Channel on her own to the start line between Ushant and the Lizard. Crossing the busy shipping lanes of the Channel at night will not allow Ellen any sleep before the start planned on Sunday.
Weather routers, Commanders' Weather, have predicted good starting conditions for Sunday morning between 0900-1200 GMT. But with 36 hours to go to a possible start, Ellen will make the final decision of when to actually cross the start line the night before when the latest weather models can be assessed. There is another good weather window developing for Wednesday/Thursday next week (1st/2nd December) that might offer MacArthur a further opportunity to start.
FROM ELLEN THIS MORNING IN FALMOUTH:
"This is what we have been planning for, working for and waiting for - it looks like we have a weather window to go and for we are planning to take it. For sure, I am feeling both excited and nervous - to go out and try and beat Francis' record is going to be very, very hard. I do not underestimate the challenge ahead and I have said before, Francis' record deserves to stand for a long time but I am going to have a go at getting around and setting a new record...if I didn't think it was possible, I wouldn't be here on the dockside today.
The weather models for a start on Sunday are good but the reality is the weather is constantly changing and although we can try to predict what the situation will be in another 36 hours, we could find ourselves in a situation where starting on Sunday is not so good. I will be looking at the weather constantly between now and then and will make the final decision on timing Saturday night, with there always being a possibility of delaying if the weather has changed in a big way.
To break this record we will need the weather on our side to try and average over 15 knots around the planet. I will need to keep the boat together as best I can and myself too, in what will be a punishing environment - on top of that we will definitely need a bit of luck to carry us around quickly and safely.
All I can say, is that we are ready... <> is a fantastic boat that I have sailed halfway around the world already and pushed to her limits on the transatlantic record attempt in June so I know what she is capable of..."
FORECASTED WEATHER FOR THE START BY COMMANDERS' WEATHER:
Winds will be SSW on Saturday and Saturday night for the delivery to the start area. Wind speeds 8-14 knots midday Saturday and increasing to 14-20 knots for few hours during the afternoon, but wind direction will be more SW when the
wind speeds increase.
A cold front will pass between 0600-1200UTC Sunday. Winds NW 20-30 knots decreasing through day to 16-22 knots by 1800 GMT. Sea state 4-7 feet from the NW and WNW. Few early showers possible with cold front then mix of clouds and sunshine.
Two obstacles are ridge of high pressure developing from WNW to the ESE and getting west of a low pressure area off Portugal during Monday morning. The low will move east and it will be important to get west as the boat moves south.
MEDIA ACTIVITY DEPARTING FALMOUTH:
Location: Port Pendennis Marina located next to the National Maritime Museum of Cornwall, Falmouth (media to collect press passes at entrance to National Maritime Museum of Cornwall, Falmouth)
1100-1200 GMT : One-to-one interviews with Ellen - TV ONLY (contact Lou Newlands on +44 (0)7769 697 387 to arrange interview)
1210-1230 GMT : FRENCH AUDIO CONFERENCE. French media to dial 0892 68 62 37 to access conference (contact Yannick Perrigot at Windreport for further information on +33 (0)2 40 84 30 00)
1240-1300 GMT : UK AUDIO CONFERENCE. UK media to dial 0906 716 4600 to access conference (contact Yannick Perrigot at Windreport for further information on +33 (0)2 40 84 30 00)
1315-1345 GMT : PRESS CONFERENCE at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall (media passes issued on the day to gain access)
1350 GMT : PHOTOCALL opportunity (Ellen on trimaran on pontoon at Port Pendennis Marina)
1400 GMT : Trimaran leaves pontoon
1410 GMT : Press boats depart pontoon (availability on press boats is limited, to request a place please contact Lucy Harwood on +44 (0)7966 587 060, press boat passes will be issued on the day)
TV IMAGES : News feeds to BT Tower (London) and Serte (Paris) - 2 news feeds to cover trimaran departing Falmouth and crossing start line. For further information, please contact Richard Simmonds, APP Broadcast on +44 (0)7768 866 371 or Caroline Muller, Welcome on Board on +33 (0)680 400 024.
AUDIO : Audio files available, please contact Yannick Perrigot, Windreport on +33 (0)2 40 84 30 00 for further information.
For further information, please contact Offshore Challenges:
Lou Newlands or Lucy Harwood
T: +44 (0)870 063 0210
E: lou@offshorechallenges.com or lucy@offshorechallenges.com
http://www.sailspeedrecords.com
Email powered by Active24
http://www.active24.com
|
