22.12.2004
Trimaran title sponsor B&Q is the biggest DIY retailer in Europe and third biggest in the world. http://www.diy.com
DAY 25 MEDIA RELEASE: SLOWING UP ON THE EXPRESSWAY EAST...
KEY DATA DAY 24 1510 GMT:
17 hours 23 minutes ahead of Joyon
OMEGA: Official timekeeper for Ellen MacArthur
Lat/Long: 44 23 S / 062 51 E (355 miles NW Kerguelen Islands)
Average Boat speed: 18.66 knots (heading ESE)
True Wind speed: 28.9 knots (direction NNW)
Sea temperature: 12.7 degrees C
Distance sailed so far: 9801 miles (average 16.8 knots)
(data communicated by Thrane MiniC via BT Business Broadband)
Update based on data recorded 1510 GMT...check http://www.teamellen.com for the latest data updated hourly
IN BRIEF:
* SURVIVAL MODE FOR CHRISTMAS as there is no avoiding the forecasted storm expected to hit <> as early as Christmas Eve...
* SEARCHING FOR THE BEST CORRIDOR EAST, be it to the north or the south, the goal is to hook into the best weather corridor going east and stick with it... The differences between Francis Joyon and MacArthur both on the clock and in the north-south divide are negligible at this stage...
* B&Q 350 MILES NW OF THE KERGUELEN ISLANDS... A place that holds mixed emotions for MacArthur having passed these islands twice before - once during the 2000 Vendée Globe and then, again, during her ill-fated, fully-crewed Jules Verne record attempt...
To listen to Ellen's audio, courtesy of Geolink/Iridium, click here http://www.ocftp2.com/audio/ellen/em221204a_uk_e.mp3
IN DETAIL:
It will be survival mode for Ellen MacArthur on <> come Christmas time, as the option to head north to avoid the storm evaporates: "Going north is not going to keep us out of the storm, whatever happens, it is going to hit us. We can't get away from this one and all we can do is try and move as far to the east, as fast as we possibly can to try and stay in front of it and not drop behind the front. But whatever happens it's going to be horrible. It's going to be very windy and it's going to be survival conditions for a period of time." The only option for Ellen is to try and stay in the strong breeze ahead of the frontal system and not let it go over the top of her: "I'm just going to do my best and sail as fast as I can and just hope that we can stay with it and ahead of that storm for several days to come." Her biggest concern will be the risk of strong 30-40+ knot northerlies slamming into the side of <>, and if this happens Ellen will be forced to head south into even rougher conditions.
The Southern Ocean is a continuous game of trying to keep in the best 'weather corridor', gybing with each wind shift generated by the frontal systems, to keep moving in an easterly direction. The low pressure systems from the west roll around the globe, unchecked by any land mass, and can build in strength and power from the effects of other weather systems to the north or south. <> hooked into the Southern Ocean conveyor belt at a more southerly position than Joyon, and since then has reindexed to the south of his track. Although 'south' is the shortest course around Antarctica, it is not necessarily the objective, as <> course is more dependent on where the depressions are tracking. In comparison, Joyon didn't have to dive as far south as Ellen to get into the Southern Ocean and managed to 'cut the corner' across the South Atlantic to round the Cape of Good Hope in a far more northerly position. He then ended up in his 'corridor' that is currently 300 miles north of MacArthur, but as both boats are straight-lining it to the east, there is really little difference between them.
This afternoon B&Q has lost a couple of hours advantage to Joyon as MacArthur is sailing a knot or two slower, slightly under-powered : "Everything seems okay, we've got a bit of sunshine again today which is nice, keeps everything a bit warmer and we're sailing downwind in 22-30 knots of breeze. We had 30 knots this morning but right now we're sailing in 22-23 knots so just about time to pull that extra reef out."
On day 24, B&Q has covered 9801 miles at 16.8 knots average speed, which equates to over one-third of the 26,000 miles around the world, and is now approaching the Kerguelen Islands, 355 miles to the south-east that evoke some mixed emotions for MacArthur: "Going past the islands is always special and it's great to be down here... But there is also a small tinge with the Jules Verne - just two years ago we were down here and it was at the Kerguelan Islands that we lost our mast. So I am very conscious of that too and, obviously, quite a few of my feelings are on that at the moment."
WEATHER ANALYSIS FROM COMMANDERS' WEATHER 0600 GMT:
Ellen has been in a more stable pattern the past 24 hrs or so and is making
great time heading east with moderate northwester lies.
Big low pressure to the south combined with the ridge of high pressure to the north is allowing for a favorable W-NW or NW breeze. Wind speeds have been in the 20-30 knot range and seas are fairly comfortable. Think she should reindex in the favorable W-NW or NW breeze thru much of Wed, but the breeze turns more W to W-SW for a time on Thu, before shifting back into the NW later Thursday into Friday.
It still looks as though Ellen will have to contend rougher conditions Christmas Eve and day as the next important frontal system approaches from the west. There is potential for N winds at 30-45 knots ahead of this front and she will most likely have to get further north to be in better position to handle this system.
Routing:
1) Gybing around 1800UTC - looking for a persistent left shift to gybe on,
probably around a TWD of 270-275 or left
a) if wind speeds become too light, consistently 18 kts or less, then we gybe as well
2) Will return to port gybe in roughly 24 hrs and then we will need as much
boat speed as possible since we will be racing the next cold front
a) heading a little N of east should be okay
Wind forecasts
Wind directions are TRUE, wind speed in kts, time is UTC
Wed, Dec 22
15: 270-300/20-28
18: 270-290/20-30, gybing
Mostly cloudy, maybe a few scattered squally showers around and after 1800UTC. Seas 10-15 feet
Thu, Dec 23
00: 270-240/25-35 and squally, unstable breeze, maybe a gust to 40
06: 240-260/20-30, unstable/shifty
12: 270-300/18-24, near 46 10s/70 50e, going back to port and as fast as possible
18: 290-320/20-25, winds lighter to the east!!
A few squally showers early with the WSW wind then cloudy to partly cloudy as the winds become NW again.
Seas 10-16 feet 1st half of the day then 8-14 feet the 2nd half of the day
Fri, Dec 24 - wind gradually turning right and increasing
00: 300-330/22-30
06: 300-330/22-30
12: 310-340/22-30, near 44 50s/82e, as fast as possible to the E
18: 330-360/24-32 - we must have our northing in around this time as winds come forward a bit
Partly to mostly cloudy. Increasing threat of showers overnight..
Seas becoming more confused overnight with peaks up to 16-18 feet.
Sat, Dec 25 - may need to be further north to be in better position with
the stronger N winds!
00: 350-020/25-35
06: 340-010/30-35, squalls to 50
12: 350-320/26-32, squalls to 45-50, near 45 50s/92 50e
18: 330-300/22-30, staying just E of the cold front
Variably cloudy to cloudy with bands of showers/squalls. Some maybe
on the stronger side with gusts to 50 knots.
Seas rough - building to 20-25ft+
http://www.commandersweather.com
PARTNER OF THE DAY : ROYAL NAVY
Associate Partner 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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B&Q has over 350 stores in the UK, China and Taiwan and employs about 40,000 people. With its sister DIY company Castorama which has stores in France, Italy and Poland, B&Q is the biggest DIY retailer in Europe and third biggest in the world.
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