14.12.2004
Trimaran title sponsor B&Q is the biggest DIY retailer in Europe and third biggest in the world. http://www.diy.com
DAY 17 MEDIA RELEASE: OPTIMISM GROWS FOR GETTING RECORD ATTEMPT BACK ON TRACK...
KEY DATA DAY 16 1410 GMT: 5 hours 34 minutes ahead of Joyon (data communicated by Thrane MiniC via BT Business Broadband)
Lat/Long: 36 44 S / 010 42 W (1430 SW Cape of Good Hope)
Average Boat speed: 18.59 knots (heading SE)
True Wind speed: 19.6 knots (direction N)
Distance sailed so far: 6295 miles
Update based on data recorded 1410 GMT...check http://www.teamellen.com for the latest data updated hourly
OMEGA: Official timekeeper for Ellen MacArthur
IN BRIEF:
* OPTIMISM IS GROWING ON BOARD B&Q and amongst the shore team that Ellen's record attempt is getting back on track, as engine temperature and ventilation systems stabilise...
* APPROX 72 HOURS AWAY FROM THE LONGITUDE OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE... <> is sailing fast in the right direction and her advantage on the clock, that all but disappeared, is growing again...
* ELLEN SEES LAND AND FIRST ALBATROSS OF THE TRIP... "The highlight was seeing four albatross just as it came light, and they were the first of the trip. Also sailing past the island of Tristan de Cuhna in the South Atlantic. So seeing that this morning and the albatross has certainly changed the vista this morning!"
ELLEN AUDIO 1200 GMT TODAY: courtesy of Geolink/Iridium
To listen to the full audio http://www.ocftp2.com/audio/ellen/em141204a_uk_e.mp3
http://www.teamellen.com
IN DETAIL:
Optimism continues to grow that Ellen MacArthur will be able to put the technical turmoil behind her and carry on with her solo, non-stop round the world record attempt on the 75-foot multihull, <>: "The difference in my outlook between now and 48 hours ago is absolutely black and white. We've had some terrible issues and it really did seem like the odds were stacked against us for a long period of time. The boat seems back on track now. The [battery] charging seems under control - there have been a few issues with it but nothing too bad - and it's actually possible to be inside the boat and charge the batteries at the same time so things are much, much better, my outlook is much more positive."
Taking advantage of the good 18 knot northerly-conditions that are forecast to veer further to the north-west and increase as the day goes on, <> is sailing fast in a south-easterly direction: "Right now, we're sailing with 18 knots of breeze with full index and genoa. The breeze is going between 18 and 21 knots and our boat speed is sitting around 20 knots - so we're nice and quick on this flat sea. It's fantastic sailing - it's really great, the boat feels in her absolute element."
B&Q's 26-hour lead over Joyon, all but disappeared in the last 48 hours as Ellen pushed south to cross a cold front and deal with the technical problems onboard. MacArthur managed to retain a 4-hour lead by 0710 GMT, and is slowly building on this time at each hourly update. Having passed north of the Tristan da Cuhna island this morning [Joyon passed further north of the island, <> is currently 240 miles south of IDEC's track], <> is approximately 1430 miles south-west of the Cape of Good Hope. "We're looking at a depression following us at the moment and the faster we sail, the longer we're going to stay ahead of it and, in other words, sail the boat further east. So at the moment, we're maximising the boat speed to the east and just keep trucking on as fast as we can. That depression will go over us tomorrow and on Thursday the front will go through, and then it's going to be a case of gybing south for a while to maximise the best VMG [Velocity Made Good - speed made towards to the finish] from that wind angle. So, at the moment things are looking pretty good...looking like it's probably going to blow 40 knots in the depression but, hopefully, not for too long - indexly in the gusts when the front goes through, so it should be alright."
Ellen's mindset has gone from one of utter despair to sheer optimism this morning: "The highlight of this morning was seeing four albatross just as it came light, and they were the first of the trip... this has certainly changed the vista this morning!" Go to http//:www.teamellen.com and click on the audio/video icon to listen the Ellen's audio in full.
Three hours sleep can make a lot of difference but for Ellen MacArthur it made a world of difference to her record attempt. Read below her email sent back from B&Q...
ELLEN EMAIL FROM B&Q 14.12.04
The motto for today is 'SLEEP MORE - SUFFER LESS'. I tried to engrave this on my brain last night, and try with all my energy to sleep - easier said than done sometimes - but, hey, we have to try... just as it went dark I called into the weather routers and said "I'll be sailing for the next few hours under solent and full index, I don't care what the wind does, or where the wind takes me - I'll call you in 3 hours", and I did. I stripped off, jumped into a warm sleeping bag in my bunk for the first time, and though just for two hours, I slept. Conditions were thankfully quite calm last night, and we spent a great deal of time sailing into a high pressure system. After the horrors of the previous 36 hours upwind in over 30 knots and a mountainous sea - everything now seems almost surreal. This morning I was woken from my bean bag (you see the bunk couldn't last that long!) to four beautiful albatross circling behind <>. The first I've seen on this trip, and as beautiful and magnifiscent as ever. Not only that, but for the first time I'm finding myself feeling a bit more at home on <>. This morning after the albatross I couldn't sleep so I did some sorting, found places to stow things that had previously been badly stowed in bags, put up a few pictures in the cabin that had been stowed away in a box. You know, almost homely things. On top of all this, the wind has filled in and we have a relatively flat sea. We'are charging ahead with genoa full index, and on our starboard side, I can see the beautiful island of Tristan Da Cuhna... The sky is grey but I like that...I almost prefer it to the beating sun of the equator. But that will all change soon I'm sure. This morning ellen has found herself again...not only that but she has rediscovered the magic of being out here. The trials and tribulations of the last few days seem miles away. Things are under control, and we're heading SOUTH!!
ellen
WEATHER ANALYSIS FROM COMMANDERS' WEATHER 0600 GMT:
Ellen has negotiated the departing high pressure area. She will see increasing
N-NW winds this morning and mid-day. Conditions should excellent for boat speeds
consistently over 20 kts throughout her daylight hours today. Just great sailing conditions for the next 12 hours.
Monster cold front will be heading for Ellen on Wednesday. Actual cold front will pass her during Wednesday night, probably just before midnight. NW winds will increase to gale force during Tuesday night and wind gusts could reach 45 knots just before the cold front passes late Wednesday and Wednesday evening.
Wind directions are TRUE, wind speed in knots, time is UTC
Tue, Dec 14
12:00 330-350/16-22, near 36 20S/12 25W - wind increasing
18:00 330-350/18-24 - wind continues to build
Cloudy to partly cloudy today. Satellite imagery suggests wind speeds will increase as the clearing from the west arrives later this afternoon. N-NW seas increasing to 6-9 feet overnight, longer period
Wed, Dec 15
00:00 330-350/20-26 - stronger wind to the S and W
06:00 320-340/25-35
12:00 320-340/25-35, gust 40 near 37S/0
18:00 310-330/25-35
Partly to mostly cloudy. Could be a few showers/squalls overnight. Seas increasing to 12-16 feet
http://www.commandersweather.com
PARTNER OF THE DAY : INSENSYS
Official supplier of advanced monitoring systems to ensure onboard performance & safety to Ellen and the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team
Click here for further information on Sailing Speed Records http://www.sailspeedrecords.com and here for information on Ellen's campaign http://www.teamellen.com
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
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