29.12.2004
Trimaran title sponsor B&Q is the biggest DIY retailer in Europe and third biggest in the world. http://www.diy.com
DAY 32 MEDIA RELEASE: 800 MILES TO THE HALFWAY POINT...
KEY DATA DAY 32 1510 GMT: 1 day 21 hours 15 minutes ahead of Joyon
OMEGA: Official timekeeper for Ellen MacArthur
Lat/Long: 50 48 S / 132 52 E (700 miles SW Tasmania / 1365 miles W New Zealand)
Average Boat speed: 18.44 knots (heading E)
True Wind speed: 24.8 knots (direction NW)
Sea temperature: 8.6 degrees C
Distance sailed so far: 12936 miles at an average speed of 17.2 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:
* B&Q SURVIVES ANOTHER FORCE 9 SOUTHERN OCEAN GALE...
* NEARLY TWO DAYS Ahead OF THE RECORD BUT MACARTHUR KEEPS HER OWN SCORE which shows that only one person has ever actually finished a solo around the world record attempt on a multihull - and until B&Q crosses the finish line, Ellen is holding on to this reality as she approaches the midway barrier...
* APPROXIMATELY 800 MILES TO THE HALFWAY POINT...
To listen to Ellen's audio, courtesy of Geolink/Iridium, click here http://www.ocftp2.com/audio/ellen/em291204a_uk_e.mp3
IN DETAIL:
B&Q went through another gale-force battering in the Indian Ocean, approximately 1500 miles west of New Zealand, as 30-40 knot northerly winds, gusting over 45 knots, tested MacArthur's resolve: "I'm a bit shaken up, bit exhausted, it was full on. We had loads of problems in the storm - water in the boat, water in the indexsail [stacked on boom] - I seemed to spend most of my time with a bilge pump, outside, inside, getting absolutely drenched. But we're okay and the breeze is subsiding now although we've got a bit of a squally patch now in the rain." Sea water was gushing in through the index engine exhaust outlet which Ellen is using as part of the ventilation system she set up to cool the back-up air cooled generator. But even if she could block up this outlet, it would have to be done from the outside by sticking something over it, and in these conditions that is impossible and it would also compound the problem of the fumes from the generator having no escape route, and the problem of overheating in the engine compartment. "There was about half a ton [of water]...I pumped till it was gone - about half an hour - then final part under the floor again." See Ellen's email below that she sent back at 0330 GMT as the storm raged...
Despite the extreme conditions that forced MacArthur to take a more southerly route, B&Q is now heading on an easterly course again, 45 hours ahead of the record after 31 days and 7 hours of racing, and the fast conditions should continue for another two days: "The breeze isn't going to disappear completely - we're going to keep some quite strong breeze for a while. It's definitely abated which is great and things seem relatively all right - once this sea state starts to go down a bit, we'll be happier. Right now, we've got good boat speed and it’s nice to make some good progress as well. These are the reaching conditions where we should be fast, and its nice to be able to sail and to feel the boat remotely close to her potential."
But all the time in the back of her mind, as she approaches the midway point of her voyage, MacArthur is not allowing her advantage to cloud the reality: "I'm pleased we're ahead of the record that's for sure, anybody would be, but at the same time I've got the same mindset as the day I started. It's early days and I'm going to have the same mindset until the day before we hit the finish, if we make it. But it's not over until it's over - we could be an hour behind, an hour ahead, 3 days ahead. It's easy to lose that time and its also easy not to finish and that's unbelievably clear in my mind..." History tells its own story and before MacArthur started her non-stop solo round the world record attempt, only one man had managed to set race solo, non-stop around the world on board a multihull to set a new world record - that man was Francis Joyon and his record time of 72 days, 22 hours, 54 minutes and 22 seconds will stand until B&Q crosses the finish line off Ushant.
MacArthur could be at the halfway stage of her attempt in another 48 hours based on the theoretical distance of 23,965 miles that her shore team are using to measure her progress. When the data shows 11,982 miles to go, that is the midway point for <>. The course distance is based on what is considered to be the shortest possible practical route around the world - of course, one will always sail more distance through the water than that, since one can rarely take a direct route - due to the weather. On the Data Panel online, MILES SAILED reflects the actual distance sailed through the water (currently 12,936 nautical miles). MILES LEFT is the miles left to sail based on the shortest practical route from current position to the finish, the reality being that <> will sail more miles than suggested in this calculation. So far <> has sailed 12,936 miles through the water [at an average speed of 17.2 knots], with 12,791 miles left to go (and 11,174 miles covered of theoretical shortest route) on a typical optimum ie shortest course around the world.
B&Q is closing on the meridian at 146 55 degrees East that marks the crossing of the South East Cape of Tasmania, approximately 530 miles to her east. The WSSRC have established a series of new intermediate Round the World records in their 2005 rules, and when <> crosses the Tasmanian meridian MacArthur will establish a new solo time for the Indian Ocean from the Western limit at Cape Agulhas, crossing the meridian of 20 degrees East, to the Eastern limit at the meridian of 146 55 degrees East that marks the southern point of Tasmania.
ELLEN EMAIL - 0330 GMT 29.12.04
Sitting here at the chart table soaked again... Already changed clothes twice in the past 10 hours - thank goodness for Arry the air cooled generator (as i type this he's stopped for the third time in 20 mins -nback in a mo)... It's been another very hard slog... yesterday winds much lighter than predicted - so more sail changes, and the stress of hoping that when you pull the reef out you won't be putting it in just an hour later. Yesterday evening it became evident that there was a storm brewing to the west that weas going to hit us hard again - and as the hours ticked by it appeared worse than the xmas storm.... it was right...we're in it - had gusts over 45 knots, and the sea is pretty damn bad. waves breaking all over the place - and the 15m2 storm jib looks gigantic. It's been a non stop night, afternoon and morning. though looking at the clock it's now lunch time local! Just after dark i put up the storm jib, and spent half an hour adjusting the 3rd reef. both done, bearing away to avoid the risk of full on hits with the waves - though there's always the odd one which catches us out.. i got a full frontal [wave] which completely winded me whilst i was rearranging the gennaker in it's bag - and now the protective nettings gone, there's a lot more cold spray to hit the face... Storm jib went up without too many probs - then it was down below to tackle the now three hour charge trying to keep other batteries up.. genny stopped again - hold on ok on.. i guess if my stomachs in my mouth each time we fall off a wave then i can't begin to think what's happening to the fuel and oil in there.. just one more washing machine cycle... i got the batteries up to about 70 percent which under the circumstances was not bad i thought - then set about checking on deck again.. unfortunately the index had filled with a pocket of water - so next stage was another bear away and a 40 minute fight to pump the water out with the bilge pump. i could harldly stand up on deck let alone hold the pump down and work the handle.. it took about 20 goes but on my last one it worked, and i managed to get the sail back on the boom - no longer loaded down with 100 kilos of water
trying to rip it apart. on coming below i managed to get an hour or so on the floor after changing clothes again... at least i slept - then woke feeling hungry - but this time chose to ignore it - and laid my head back on the damp
fleece to snooze again. on awakening there was another 2 hours list of tasks, i bailed out the area beneath the pilot arms - but couldn't work out where the water was coming from.. finally i discover its from the old index engine bay - and there's about half a ton in there coming down the old exhaust which needs to stay open as the air for the generator cooling comes from there. so - i pumped till it was gone - about half an hour - then final part under the floor again.. (generator stopped again, and a wave just thudded on top of the coachhouse) back again!.. so i'm here now having stuffed as much ceraeal in as i can... drank my sports drink dry - and will now spend the next three hours tending to the generator... engineer back on duty! I'm really exhausted, but drying out the boat, and creating that list of jobs for after makes me feel a bit better... later on then.
ex
WEATHER ANALYSIS FROM COMMANDERS' WEATHER:
The strong N winds will be slowly coming down today. Big high swell to the NE and low pressure off the SW produced the strong flow and the worst of it has now passed. It will still be windy today, but better than yesterday, indexly 28-35 kts. Wind will back a little and be more NNW to NW. This will allow a more E heading as opposed to SE.
The NW wind then continues Thurs and Friday, speeds more on the order of 22-32 kts, though. Again, plan will be to come indexly E. This should still indextain good wind speed and a good wind angle which should allow a fast boat speed. Seas should ease a little as well and that should help make conditions a bit better over the next couple of days. Will likely come more NE for a time Friday as breeze drops off and backs more appreciably.
Pattern shows a ridge of high pressure from off the SE part of Australia extending SSE towards 50s/160-163e by 00utc Sat. This will make for lighter winds, lightest occurring near and north of 50s. Beyond this time, wind will back and become WSW and then SW. Course will then be ESE to E, probably passing between Auckland and Campbell Island.
Strategy:
1) Still think it is important to limit the southing as much as you can
2) Want to be close to 51s by 6utc Sat as flow after will back and will force you east or a little south of E
3) Have you passing between the Auckland Island and Campbell Island then
indexly an E course - staying near or north of 51 30s thru 175w
4) Do not forget Mike Golding reported iceberg at 54 44/136e so still do not want to be too far south next week.
Wind forecasts
Wind directions are TRUE, wind speed in kts, time is UTC
Wed, Dec 29 - winds back
15: 330-340/22-32
18: 330-340/22-32 - wind stronger to the E - wind may be more variable in speed
Cloudy with scattered showers and a brief squall possible
Seas subsiding to 12-20 feet
Thurs, Dec 30
00: 330-340/25-32
06: 330-340/25-32
12: 330-340/25-35, near 50 50s/143e
18: 330-340/25-32 - wind stronger to the W and S, lighter to the E
Considerable clouds. A few isolated showers
Seas 12-20 ft
Fri, Dec 31
00: 330-340/20-30 - wind stronger to the W and S, lighter to the E and N
06: 330-340/20-30
12: 330-340/20-25, near 51s/154 50e
18: 330-340/22-15 - winds begin to back
Cloudy to partly cloudy. Seas 12-16 ft and diminishing.
http://www.commandersweather.com
PARTNER OF THE DAY : RBS
Official Business Partner to Ellen 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
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