OMEGA: Official timekeeper for Ellen MacArthur
Lat/Long: 17 28 S / 028 00 W (650 miles SE Salvador / 1100 miles S Equator)
Average Boat speed: 9.07 knots (heading N by E)
True Wind speed: 9.1 knots (direction NW)
Sea temperature: 28 degrees C
Distance sailed so far: 22,615 miles at an average speed of 16.4 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:
* MACARTHUR TRYING TO STAY POSITIVE IN DIFFICULT CONDITIONS using the time to tackle the jobs list, check the boat over, up the mast again to check the rig, anything and everything to ensure that when B&Q gets into stronger conditions north of the Equator, they are as ready as they can be to take on the North Atlantic.
* NO CHANGE ON WEATHER FRONT, LIGHT AIRS AND MORE LIGHT AIRS. Little wind this side of the Equator and a period of lighter winds north of the Equator, will make the next few days painfully slow.
* NECK AND NECK WITH JOYON, HOW WAS HE DOING AT THIS TIME? Here are his 24 hour runs, starting with today's, these are VMG distances, ie distance sailed towards the finish, not through the water - 399 miles today, then 247, 162, 130, 232, 257 on passing the Equator on the equivalent of the 29th, 300, 299, 278, 221, 212, 162, 284, 383, and two big days to finish with 400, 439 and 345 in to the line on the 9th [dates normalised to Ellen's]. MacArthur's record hangs in the balance but if the weather gods are kind north of the Equator, things could swing back in her favour. But, for now, it is a battle of mental endurance.
* LATEST EQUATOR ETA FRIDAY 28TH JANUARY. To get back ahead of Joyon she must cross the Equator by 0835 GMT on Saturday, 29th January.
To listen to Ellen's audio, courtesy of Geolink/Iridium, click here http://www.ocftp2.com/audio/ellen/em240105a_uk_e.mp3
FROM ELLEN:
How are you holding up?
I'm hanging in there, bearing in mind we'll be back in two weeks and if we're not back in two weeks, it doesn't matter anyway. So I've got to hang in there for two more weeks, that's the way I'm thinking and I'm trying to look after myself the best I can. I am exceptionally tired, I'm pretty exhausted and I'm fairly bruised. I've been up the mast again [to do a rig check], just this morning, so I'm feeling pretty battered again. But just bearing in mind that in two weeks time it will be all over - with or without a record.
Do you think the record is still possible?
The record is defnitely within our sights - I'm not going to let go of that until the last second-hand ticks over, that's for sure. We've been working on this project for two years, I've now been at sea for over 50 days and now is not the time that I am going to throw my hands up in the air and give up, no way. We're level with Francis - we're not three days or five days behind him and we still have a chance. But we only have a chance if the weather is kind to us - the next three days are going to be terrible, we won't cross the Equator until the 28th and until then we are going to be in pretty light conditions. Once we cross the Equator, we have to see if we get stuck in the Doldrums or not, and that's another question mark. We could get stuck there for 24 hours and, if that's the case, obviously we're in even more trouble. A lot of things can come into play and we've still got a very, very long way to sail - it would be wrong to say the record is definitely going to happen because there is no way that is the reality right now.
Does the public support help you?
It's been amazing to see the amount of support from people - people writing into the website saying they have been praying for good winds, wishing the breeze will come back - it's been absolutely incredible. And if ever there was a reason not to give up, it is the fact that so many people are behind us. I don't feel like I am alone out here, there are a lot of people wishing this boat along and, obviously, I am one of them but there are a lot of others out there.
What is the longer term forecast like?
It's going to be even lighter tonight and for the next five days. We're not going to cross the Equator until the 28th and that's not even passed the Doldrums, and once we pass the Doldrums, the Northern Hemisphere Trade Winds are very light. So we've got light winds for at least the next week.
How are you staying optimistic?
I am trying to be positive - you know it's been exceptionally difficult, it feels like everything has been against us in the Southern Hemisphere and we've not only lost out on Francis but lost four days in a period where we should have gained theoretically because he was very slow in this area. So things have been terrible, quite frankly, and trying to come to terms with that and come to terms with the fact that the weather for the next week is pretty bad as well, then that is pretty hard to deal with. But what can we do? We can only do our best and we can't do any more than that. So I've tried to occupy myself by fixing everything, getting everything back on track and try and stay positive feelings from that. Like climbing the mast this morning just to make sure everything is okay - it seems fine - and all those things to try and get us in the best possible position to do the best we can once we get across the Equator and into some stronger winds in the Northern Hemisphere.
PARTNER OF THE DAY : THE DERBYSHIRE
Derbyshire Building Society banking partner to the Ellen MacArthur Trust
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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