Lat/Long: 06 30 N / 031 20 W (390 miles N Equator / 680 miles SSW Cape Verde Is)
Average Boat speed: 16.36 knots (heading N by W)
True Wind speed: 18.0 knots (direction E by N)
Sea temperature: 27.3 degrees C
Distance sailed so far: 24,126 miles at an average speed of 16.2 knots
(data communicated by Thrane MiniC via BT Business Broadband)
Update based on data recorded 0710 GMT...check http://www.teamellen.com for the latest data updated hourly
IN BRIEF:
* B&Q HOLDING LEAD AND MATCHING PACE OF JOYON FOR NOW as Ellen sails B&Q hard on the wind northwards.
* PRESERVATION OF B&Q IS CRITICAL in the final stages of MacArthur's solo, non-stop round the world record attempt, if she is to break the 72 day, 22 hour and 54 minute world record of Francis Joyon.
* JOYON CROSSED THE EQUATOR ON DAY 62 of his record attempt just over a year ago on the 23rd January before straightlining it northwards.
* HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WEST OF IRELAND COULD BE MACARTHUR'S 'final fence' towards the finish.
IN DETAIL:
B&Q skipper, Ellen MacArthur, is holding her lead and matching pace of Francis Joyon for now, as she sails B&Q hard on the wind northwards. Since crossing the Equator on Thursday night, setting a new fastest solo time of 60 days, 13 hours and 25 minutes, Ellen has been heading in a north-westerly direction - 40 degrees away from the most direct route - which has accounted for her losing three hours of her advantage since yesterday morning. B&Q's speeds overnight have averaged between 13-14 knots and increasing this morning to just over 16 knots as the NE-ENE winds pick up speed. Upwind is not nice and not fast - tough on the boat and hard work for Ellen but for now she is matching the pace of Joyon, sailing 258 miles Distance Made Good towards the finish compared to Joyon's 232 miles in the last 24 hours - these are distances sailed towards the finish and not miles through the water, but as they both sail a fairly straight-line course there is little difference right now.
Avoiding any technical failure and the preservation of B&Q is critical in the final stages of MacArthur's solo, non-stop round the world record attempt, if she is to break the 72 day, 22 hour and 54 minute world record of Francis Joyon. And sailing in upwind and reaching conditions [wind side on to the boat] over the next few days will tax the 75-foot multihull further, as it will be an uncomfortable and aggressive point of sail. B&Q has sailed 24,126 miles at an average speed of 16.2 knots - a relentless pace, through gales and mountainous seas - inevitably, the pace takes it toll. The headboard car ripping out of the indexsail track nine days ago was an indication of the wear and tear that B&Q is suffering. Chafing on the ropes and halyards, tired blocks, pounding on the rudders [remember the problems MacArthur had in the very early stages of her attempt when the pounding seas of the North Atlantic flicked up the rudder breaking the restraining fuses] - any number of technical problems could end MacArthur's record in a second. And that is the reality MacArthur has to live with now which is why her response to how she is feeling, is "nervous, stressed and nervous". There are 2,906 miles left on the clock [approximately 8% of the round the world distance] but that is still a long way to go in a tired boat.
Francis Joyon crossed the Equator on day 62 of his record attempt just over a year ago on the 23rd January. His 90-foot multihull, IDEC, made the Equator passage at around 32 degrees west and he was fortunate not to be slowed by any Doldrum activity. Joyon then held a straightline northwards with very little deviation clocking up daily runs of 257 miles today, 300 miles tomorrow and 299 the day after in terms of Distance Made Good. Joyon was not forced further west of 34 degrees west and from 19 55 degrees north, IDEC edged east, passing close to the Azores before straightlining it to the finish. And he was fast at the finish, very fast - racking up average 400 mile daily runs over the last four days. [See below for all of Joyon's daily 24 hour runs to the finish]
Over the next two days, wind speeds are expected to be in the 13-22 knot range turning right tomorrow with winds becoming more easterly. This is good for MacArthur as it will allow her to sail a more N-NE direct route, albeit upwind, as she needs to stay in the higher wind speeds, east of 33 degrees west. Going into next week winds continue their trend right and backing further into the south-east and increasing in strength by the middle of the week. Commanders' Weather are following closely the high pressure area to the west of Ireland which they expect to drift south and south-west next week. For now, they are looking to route B&Q to round to the north side of the high although it is still early days to decide the final strategy of a high pressure system that could prove to be MacArthur's 'final fence'.
WEATHER ANALYSIS FROM COMMANDERS' WEATHER 0600 GMT:
In the rules of record attempts, skippers are allowed to use the advice of shore-based weather experts to assist them with their choices. Ellen is working with two teams, principally Commanders Weather in the USA, backed up by Meeno Schrader in Germany.
Ellen is safely in the NE trade winds and will continue that way for the next 2 days. Satellite is showing no important shower or squall activity near Ellen's position. The breeze is somewhat variable, with wind speeds oscillating between 14 and 22 knots - there will be no change to this during Saturday, but wind speeds may increase a knot or 2 during Sunday and Monday.
Wind directions are NE, which is a tough wind direction, since Ellen must stay east of 34W to enjoy higher wind speeds. This means Ellen will be beating into the wind today. Wind directions will very slowly veer the next 2 days, but will not become a more E wind direction until Sunday.
Winds look to be ESE at 17-23 kts on Monday, which will produce very fast boat speeds towards the NE.
Wind forecasts
Wind directions are TRUE, wind speed in kts, time is UTC
Sat, Jan 29
12: 050-060/15-21, near 7 40N/31 40W
18: 050-070/15-21
Partly cloudy Sat and Sun with a brief squally shower or 2.
Sun, Jan 30
00: 060-080/13-18
06: 060-080/15-21
12: 070-090/15-21, near 12 20N/32 20W
18: 070-090/13-18
http://www.commandersweather.com
PARTNER OF THE DAY : ACTIVE 24
Official Internet hosting supplier to Ellen and the Offshore Challenges Sailing Team
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.
http://www.diy.com
|
