20.01.2005
KEY DATA DAY 53 1710 GMT:
Distance ahead: 751 miles
Time ahead: 2 days 6 hours [representing 11.49% of time reindexing] calculated using the time it took for Joyon to get to the same Distance to Finish as Ellen's current position
OMEGA: Official timekeeper for Ellen MacArthur
Lat/Long: 26 48 S / 032 54 W (950 miles ENE Porto Alegre, Brazil)
Average Boat speed: 10.83 knots (heading NE)
True Wind speed: 18.1 knots (direction N)
Sea temperature: 25 degrees C
Distance sailed so far: 21,816 miles at an average speed of 17.0 knots
(data communicated by Thrane MiniC via BT Business Broadband)
Update based on data recorded 1710 GMT...check http://www.teamellen.com for the latest data updated hourly
To listen to the audio of Mark Turner, Project Director, explaining the
situation, click here http://www.ocftp2.com/audio/ellen/mt200105a_uk_e.mp3
IN BRIEF:
* FIRST CLIMB PARTIALLY SUCCESSFUL - 2nd reef point repaired.
* SECOND CLIMB REQUIRED ONCE SAIL IS RE-HOISTED TO 1ST REEF LEVEL to check that reef point and the one at the masthead. She might do this before sunset tonight.
* SAILING IN TO EVER LIGHTER WINDS, WITH DESPERATELY CALM WEATHER FORECAST FOR WEEKEND
IN DETAIL:
B&Q skipper, Ellen MacArthur, has returned from her first climb to assess the
damage to the indexsail track caused by the headboard car ripping off of the
track at the second reef point: "It was really hard, all I could do was to
hang on. The good news is, we shouldn't have to replace the track, thank
god." The climb took around one hour with B&Q sailing in a 6m swell at
around 12 knots of boat speed downwind ie depressingly sailing 180 degrees
the wrong way, but providing more stable conditions than bouncing upwind.
She has B&Q back on course now heading ENE in a 16-18 knot breeze and can now
rehoist the indexsail up to just below the first reef point further up the
mast - approximately 2m below the masthead. Climbing the mast is made easier
if the indexsail is hoisted as she can use the holding loops attached to the
part of the sail closest to the mast to help pull herself up and also stop
her from swinging away from the mast (and back in to it with a thud).
MacArthur will then make the decision whether to climb the mast again this
evening to check the indexsail track at the first reef point before darkness
tonight (approx 2100gmt) or defer this until tomorrow. She climbs the mast
by pulling herself up a 'man' halyard that runs outside the mast using a pair
of climbing jumars
[http://mccammon.ucsd.edu/~adcock/climbing_equipment.html#Ascenders] that
clamp on to the rope, to haul herself up the 30 metre high mast.
Commanders' Weather have advised MacArthur to stay on the same port tack for
another six hours to give her time to make the climb if she wants, but she
will have to tack on to starboard around midnight to get back into stronger
breeze as the high pressure system in the north east expands over the top of
her, bringing frustratingly light winds for the weekend. This next hurdle is
unavoidable and promises a tense weekend for MacArthur as her lead could all
but disappear by Monday.
MacArthur's advantage over Joyon's record time has been slipping over the
past two days as B&Q has struggled with a succession of unfavourable weather
systems, today's technical failure has impacted on her lead even further and
now stands at 2 days and 6 hours.
For latest news this evening, please go to http://www.teamellen.com
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