02.02.2005
Zusammenstellung der Renndaten seit Start
Daily Summary 28.11.04 to Date
Data includes:
Date/Day of attempt
Time ahead/behind existing record (days hours minutes)
Lat/Long
Location approx
DS = Distance Sailed
BS = Boatspeed average (knots)
TWS = True Wind Speed data (knots)
24hr = miles sailed through the water (point to point) in last 24 hours
Brief summary of 24hr period
Quote of The Day
WSSRC = World Sailing Speed Ratification Council
Key Moments in red.
[NB: Lat/long data, distance sailed and 24 hr mileage all from 0810 GMT poll. Data for boat speed and true wind speed is from the first daily update to appear on www.teamellen.com normally 0710 GMT]
27/11
Leaves Falmouth, UK 14:00 GMT for start line off Ushant, France
28/11.04 START
08:10:44 GMT B&Q crosses start line
28-30 knots NNW breeze. Crosses line at 27 knots boat speed.
Must finish by 07:04:06 GMT on 9.2.05 to break Joyon’s 72d 22h 54m solo record as ratified by WSSRC.
"Relief to be over the line, relief to be going. I was so nervous and very emotional even just seeing the guys in the helicopter above this morning."
29/11/04 Day 2
1h 58m behind
44 02 N/011 49 W
120 m from Cape Finisterre
DS 414.3 m
BS 19.13
TWS 21.7
Latest 24hr run 414.3 miles
B&Q sailing away from Joyon's more direct route and loosing time. index rudder kicks up during night in collision.
"It's going to be a tough one this….I can feel it."
30/11/04 Day 3
7m ahead
37 47 N/013 49 W
230 miles off Lisbon
DS 831.5
BS 13.7
TWS 16.1
Latest 24hr run 417.2 miles
Uncomfortable night, boat flexing. Critical gybe around low imminent
"I'm pretty tired and stressed. The sea state has been unstable so I'm pretty stressed all round."
1/12/04 Day 4
3h 5m ahead
31 00 N/015 36 W
Madeira (after 72 hrs sailing)
DS 1274.6
BS 16
TWS 18
Latest 24hr run 443 miles
16-32 knots overnight. Big seas. Winds 35-45 knots. Pass Canaries early evening.
"Can't leave the boat for 5 minutes without something happening…hope it's going to stabilise soon."
2/12/04 Day 5
57m ahead
27 03 N/020 28 W
130 m SW Canary group
DS 1630.1
BS 16.19
TWS 14
Latest 24hr run 355.5 miles
Variable winds 8-25 knots. 290 m W of Joyon's track. Reports movement in index rudder cassette, but not serious problem.
"I realise what the scale of the task really is…I have felt under immense pressure since leaving - the pressure of that clock never stops."
3/12/04 Day 6
2h 30m behind
22 30 N/024 31 W
345 miles north of Cape Verde islands
DS 2008.7
BS 20.28
TWS 18.8
Latest 24hr run 377.5 miles
Sailing SW course to set-up for rapid Doldrums transition. 450 miles off African coast; Joyon was only 25 miles off at equivalent stage.
"Spent a long time going over Joyon's positions and his average speeds and things. I needed to get a grip on that."
4/12/04 Day 7
3h 8m ahead
15 34 N/027 01 W
112 miles SW Cape Verde Is
DS 2465.2
BS 20.44
TWS 16.8
Latest 24hr run 457.3 miles
20-24 knots boat speed overnight. Joyon went E of Cape Verde Is, B&Q to W. Dramatic rise in sea temp 26.4°c. Carries out general check of boat, changes some lashings.
"So things are generally OK on board, but it's stressful and you spend most of your time just thinking about what's going to break next."
5/12/04 Day 8 Doldrums
13h 16m ahead
08 17 N/027 11 W
500 miles north of Equator
DS 2907.6
BS 15.41
TWS 12.4 (NE by E)
Latest 24hr run 442.4 miles
Average boat speed dropping and B&Q pushed W of S as wind moves to ESE as Doldrums set in.
"The cabin temperature is around 32° inside and 29 at night - it takes a lot of your energy away."
6/12/04 Day 9
8h 27m ahead
03 50 N/028 18 W
245 miles from Equator
DS 3191.4
BS 12.5
TWS 12.4
Latest 24hr run 283.8 miles
HMS Iron Duke encounter with helicopter fly-by. 6 or 7 sail changes overnight as wind fluctuates between 5-20 knots. Lead over Joyon suffers.
"My body is OK, but I'm losing a lot of fluids. I'm trying to drink a huge amount because it's just so warm onboard."
7/12/04 Day 10 Equator
10h 31m ahead
01 21 S/029 41 W
475 m NE Recife
DS 3515.3
BS 14.8
TWS 14.6
Latest 24hr run 324 miles
Crosses Equator at 02:30 GMT setting a new fastest solo time of 8d 18h 20m (14h 3m faster than Joyon's time of 9d 8h 23m). Gives Neptune a copy of Lance Armstrong's "It's Not About The Bike" given to her by Project Director and long-term friend, Mark Turner.
"I'm very pleased with the Equator time. It's fantastic to always be ahead of the record, but to cross the Equator over 14 hrs ahead of Francis was brilliant."
8/12/04 Day 11
12h 31m ahead
07 36 S/030 44 W
270 miles ENE Recife
DS 3899.1
BS 15.8
TWS 15.1
Latest 24hr run 383.8 miles
In ESE Trades overnight. 75 miles west of Joyon's track. Low off South America looks weak. Southerly (not favoured SE) course looks best option.
"I'm trying to rest as much as possible. It's very hard when it's so hot and even in the cuddy it's pretty airless."
9/12/04 Day 12
13h 58m ahead
15 28 S/031 06 W
445 m SE Salvador
DS 4376.2
BS 20.42
TWS 18
Latest 24hr run 477.1 miles
Hits 21 knots boat speed overnight. Joyon's track converges to 60 miles (smallest gap since Finisterre). Lead starts to drop throughout day.
"You know when you do this kind of trip it's swings and roundabouts; we'll have good times and bad times and there is obviously a very bad time ahead."
10/12/04 Day 13
13h 53m ahead
21 46 S/029 38 W
720 m E Rio
DS 4773.3
BS 17.16
TWS 15.4
Latest 24hr run 397.1 miles
First time east of IDEC's route. heading for low pressure system to make fast transition into south.
"Once we get into the wind from the N and NW in the right direction, we'll just 'pump up the volume' and go a bit faster."
11/12/04 Day 14
26h 11m ahead
24 44 S/023 56 W
940 miles NE Tristan da Cunha
DS 5193.9
BS 18.64
TWS 19
Latest 24hr run 420.6 miles
5000 mile point reached at 1 day ahead of Joyon. Nearing gybe to avoid pushing E into high pressure. Likely upwind sailing ahead. 48hrs to Southern Ocean. Gybes late afternoon.
"At the end of the day, with a boat averaging such high speeds, you will have problems - that's why it's something not many people undertake and the whole existence is pretty stressful."
12/12/04 Day 15
21h 23m ahead
27 49 S/019 05 W
2030 m NE of Cape of Good Hope
DS 5531.8
BS 12.34
TWS 30.4
Latest 24hr run 337.9 miles
No sleep in 10-30 knots+ while passing through cold front. Breeze shifty NW to SE, loses time. Problem with index water-cooled generator threatens record attempt, switches to back-up air-cooled generator, but fumes in cabin. Watermakers fail.
"Everything is flying around the cabin - I have to hold onto something the whole time to stop being flung across the boat…I've had my head smashed against the hull a few times by the violent motion."
13/12/04 Day 16
9h 56m ahead
32 40 S/017 52 W
1825 m W of Cape of Good Hope
DS 5831.5
BS 9.55
TWS 10.8
Latest 24hr run 299.7 miles
DIY queen. Fits air-feed ducting to back-up generator overnight and repairs both watermakers. Flatter seas and decreasing NNW breeze assist repairs. Cold front barrier to S.
"I got some sleep this morning and some this afternoon, but I need more; I need a lot more."
14/12/04 Day 17
4h 2m ahead
36 05 S/012 59 W
Tristan da Cunha
DS 6176.3
BS 16.92
TWS 13.3
Latest 24hr run 344.8 miles
Low from Brazil pushes B&Q E. 48hr hold on any decision to pull-out of record attempt. Spots Tristan da Cunha. Ends day optimistic that attempt should continue.
"I was woken from my bean bag to four beautiful albatross circling behind B&Q. The first I've seen on this trip and as beautiful and magnificent as ever."
15/12/04 Day 18
14h 29m ahead
38 18 S/003 15 W
1085 SW Cape of Good Hope
DS 6664.8
BS 22.2
TWS 28.1
Latest 24hr run 488.4 miles
10hr increase over record time with best 24hr run so far 488.4 miles, av spd 20.06 knots. 300 miles S of Joyon's track
"Things are getting a little bit chilly and the water temperature has dropped down to about 15°. The sky is very grey and the sun has disappeared - we're in our first Southern Ocean depression."
16/12/04 Day 19
13h 57m ahead
38 21 S/006 12 E
660 miles SW Cape of Good Hope
DS 7112
BS 20.09
TWS 26.1
Latest 24hr run 447.2 miles
Crosses into E hemisphere. Up to 32 knots breeze overnight. In depression heading E for 12hrs, waiting to gybe SE as low follows B&Q E. Gybes starboard 19:00 GMT.
"I feel different; I feel much better than I have been over the last few weeks. I feel more positive."
17/12/04 Day 20 Cape of Good Hope
16h 16m ahead
39 38 S/015 07 E
Cape of Good Hope
DS 7549.4
BS 19.06
TWS 20.2
Latest 24hr run 437.4 miles
Passes Cape of Good Hope 17:56 GMT in a new fastest solo time of 19d 9h 46m. 10h 45 m faster than Joyon time of 19d 20h 31m.
Iceberg warning below 45S
"If you isolate the Southern Ocean segment, then Joyon sailed approximately 12,044 miles at an average speed of 17.3 kts; that's an average of 415 miles/day. Effectively, that is my target now. I have to do better than that if I can. I think it's do-able if I can keep me and B&Q together."
18/12/04 Day 21
20h 17m ahead
43 03 S/023 31 E
205 m E Cape of Good Hope
DS 7989.3
BS 18.4
TWS 30.5
Latest 24hr run 439.9 miles
45 knot gusts, huge waves overnight. Weak ridge of high pressure immediately ahead around Kerguelen. Likely loss of pace soon.
"It's like sailing over mountains…it's like driving an all-terrain vehicle very fast over mountains."
19/12/04 Day 22
28h 21m ahead
44 41 S/032 14 E
240 miles N of Prince Edward Islands
Kerguelan Is 1,520 to east
DS 8404.8
BS 21.5
TWS 26.5
Latest 24hr run 413.7 miles
1 year since B&Q launch. Sea temp drops from 16-10°c losing time waiting for cold front to arrive. Huge low forming E of Kerguelan; Christmas looks bleak. Gybes to port late afternoon, wind picks-up to 30 knots. 400 miles south of Joyon's course
"The seas are a lot flatter than they have been, but they are due to build again towards this evening and stronger winds tomorrow. So, it's going to get fairly hairy again fairly soon; so now is a good time to rest.”
20/12/04 Day 23
18h 4m ahead
46 01 S/40 03 E
400 m W of Crozet Is
DS 8798.1
BS 21.74
TWS 34
Latest 24hr run 393.8 miles
Depression passes SE, 25-30ft waves. Light winds to N, rough seas to S dilemma. Wind builds 40-45 knots, gusting 53. Cannot gybe NE over shallow (200 metre) North African Rise. Survival mode.
"The beauty of those immense, rolling waves is endless and there is a kind of eternal feeling about their majestic rolling that will live on forever."
21/12/04 Day 24
20h 34m ahead
45 31 S/049 17 E
53 m W of Crozet
DS 9219.8
BS 20.24
TWS 26.3
Latest 24hr run 421.7 miles
Passes N of Crozet Is. Fits carbon wedges in index rudder steering gear to fix problem of minor movement. Finds play in index rudder and tightens fuses. Shakes out 2nd reef as sea conditions moderate. Predicts storm of 50 knots for Christmas Day.
"To be surfing at 25-28 kts in that amount of breeze in those waves, to be handling as well as she did - I was just absolutely over the moon with her performance…it was fantastic."
22/12/04 Day 25
20h 14m ahead
45 01 S/60 01 E
445 m WNW Kerguelan Is
DS 9674.3
BS 18.49
TWS 29.4
Latest 24hr run 454.5 miles
Third of the way round. Christmas storm becomes unavoidable. 300 miles further S than Joyon, but same heading.
"I'm pretty happy that we're OK and we're carrying on E into the next depression which is going to hit us the day before Christmas."
23/12/04 Day 26
15h 57m ahead
44 16 S/069 12 E
270 m N Kerguelan Is
DS 10095.3
BS 14.63
TWS 18.6
Latest 24hr run 421 miles
Collision with 'living' object at 26 knots last night. No obvious damage, but thrown forward onto chart table. Spent 8 hours repairing watermaker. Speed drops off, but time to check boat for storm ahead.
"It was more of a shock knowing that you had hit something was the hardest thing, but the boat seems OK. I was very, very lucky."
24/12/04 Day 27
3h 37m ahead
42 50 S/078 42 E
1360 m NE Kerguelan Is
DS 10529.7
BS 14.7
TWS 18.5
Latest 24hr run 434.4 miles
Makes good speed, but heads NE to position for storm and lead drops dramatically. North of Joyon's route for first time (120 miles)
"It is going to hit us. We can't get away from this one…"
25/12/04 Day 28 Christmas Day
10h 37m ahead
43 52 S/089 30 E
1250 m to Cape Leeuwin
DS 11016.2
BS 20.38
TWS 37.9
Latest 24hr run 483.8 miles
Lead over record reduced to 1 hr yesterday. NNW breeze of 35-45 kts
"I've been stressed all night - so stressed. I've got a cracking headache, hardly had any sleep and I've been so stressed my tongue's come out in ulcers."
26/12/04 Day 29
13h 47m ahead
42 49 S/098 28 E
1360 m E Kerguelan Is
DS 11427
BS 21.54
TWS 30.5
Latest 24hr run 417.8 miles
Storm backs-off overnight, but B&Q catching-up with cold front again; 35-40 knots breeze. "Christmas Box" on hold
"I've got a few days of this kind of weather and I'm not even going to think of opening my Christmas box."
27/12/04 Day 30 Cape Leeuwin
1d 6h 21m ahead
45 10 s/108 02 E
DS 11881
BS 17.81
TWS 27.4
Passes Cape Leeuwin 22:15:45 GMT in a new solo time of 29d 14h 5m taking 17h 29m off Joyon's time of 30d 7h 29m
Biggest lead over record so far. Currently 370 miles S of Joyon’s track.
"I think we'll celebrate Christmas at New Year…well, we can hope. Christmas was sad this year - 'just another day (albeit, a bad one) in the office'. At least B&Q and I are in one piece."
28/12/04 Day 31
1d 14h 15m ahead
47 20 S/119 09 E
1185 m W Tasmania
DS 12347.1
BS 19.38
TWS 25.1
Latest 24hr run 454.3 miles
35 knots wind, increasing fast. Icebergs below NZ are next dilemma. Light patch below NZ may slow B&Q.
"It's going to be a pretty similar situation to what we had at Christmas, so I'm not particularly looking forward to it."
29/12/04 Day 32
1d 19h ahead
50 27 S/128 29 E
830 m W of Tasmania
DS 12801.1
BS 16.71
TWS 28.7
Latest 24hr run 448.4 miles
In gale 1500 miles west of NZ. 45 knot gusts. Judgement of route between icebergs and area of light winds is becoming crucial.
"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 [reef folds on boom]. I seemed to spend most of my time with a bilge pump; outside, inside - getting absolutely drenched."
30/12/05 Day 33
2d 15h 45m ahead
52 15 S/141 38 E
1050 m W of New Zealand
DS 13273.1
BS 20.01
TWS 25.3
Latest 24hr run 472miles
Climbs over two day ahead-of-record barrier. NNW to NW 24-32 kts breeze, sea conditions smoothing out. Discovers only two strands holding Solent headsail halyard together; spends two hours re-splicing
"It literally feels like we're sailing along under a blanket. You can't see anything and the sky has closed in to just a couple of hundred metres away."
31/12/04 Day 34 Midway point
2d 10h 44m ahead
53 46 S/154 26 E
670 m SW New Zealand
DS 13744.6
BS 22.61
TWS 21.4
Latest 24hr run 471.5 miles
Halfway stage of circumnavigation. Relatively warm NW wind over very cold seawater increases fog cover
"There are birds around me - that's always a sign of an iceberg. There's thick fog; I can't see more than a few boat lengths in front of me. This is pretty scary…"
1/1/05 Day 35
2d 13h 40m ahead
52 22 S/166 47 E
95 m W Campbell Is
DS 14209.4
BS 16.73
TWS 16.1
Latest 24hr run 464.8 miles
Flat sea, but a swell around the shallows of Campbell Island. No blue sky spotted for 5 days.
"I think the biggest thought on my mind for New Year is the disaster that has happened in the Indian Ocean and all the death and trauma that its caused."
2/1/05 Day 36
2d 11h 48m ahead
50 54 S/177 52 E
315 m E Campbell Is
DS 14658.7
BS 20.33
TWS 23.2
Latest 24hr run 449.3 miles
Spots two large (50 metre+) icebergs 2 miles north of B&Q at 04:30 GMT. Ice sighting 70 m north of reports from Vendée Globe fleet. indextaining good boat speed in S-SW 20-26 knots breeze. Crosses International Date Line at noon.
"I can see them off to port…I'm nervous, like you would be. I've got to go back on deck; I only have four hours of daylight left. By then, I hope I'm passed the worst…"
3/1/05 Day 37
2d 12h 19m ahead
51 58 S/169 59 W
530 m SSE Chatham Is
DS 15118.6
BS 21.89
TWS 26.9
Latest 24hr run 460 miles
Passes 15,000 mile mark. Stable SW airflow suggests a possible 'one gybe' route to Cape Horn. Iceberg threat subsides as water temperature rises to 10°
"We may get away with doing one gybe at the tip of the Convergence and then going all the way to the Horn on one gybe."
4/1/05 Day 38
2d 15h 45m ahead
51 07 S/159 00 W
Due S of French Polynesia
DS 15544.5
BS 17.82
TWS 18.3
Latest 24hr run 425.8 miles
Hail storms, lightning and gusts of 40 knots. Collects rainwater from foot of indexsail. 40-50° wind shifts and varying speeds of 8-38 knots caused by low pressure forming to N. Joyon experienced similar, fluctuating conditions at the same long/lat. He also suffered headboard damage at this stage and lost time heading N and making repairs.
"I dragged myself off the floor where I was huddled in my oilskins under a fleece blanket and looked to the sky to see yet another demon black cloud."
5/1/05 Day 39
2d 21h ahead
52 06 S/148 38 W
3020 m W of Cape Horn
DS 15959.7
BS 13.95
TWS 19.2
Latest 24hr run 415.2 miles
Close to exhaustion after 3 days of variable winds, but breeze finally stabilises in W and enables B&Q to gybe. Exceeds 3 day advantage over Joyon at 13:00 GMT although a storm forecast two days ahead of B&Q may affect this lead.
"I have never been this bad. I'm totally exhausted. The wind has been going from 12-46 knots…"
6/1/05 Day 40
3d 11h 29m ahead
50 48 S/138 28 W
Mid way between NZ and Cape Horn
DS 16375.2
BS 21.87
TWS 25.4
Latest 24hr run 415.5 miles
240 miles north of Antarctic Convergence Zone. Starting to feel effects of storm ahead, rough sea, hard rain. Risk of being caught by a Cold Front detaching from a low pressure system 500 m SW of B&Q. Close to exhaustion, last 3 days "worst of my sailing career". Changes to index generator as air-cooled gen cutting out in rough seas. Burnt arm in change over.
"I aplogise to the albatross that came close-in, wondering what my cries were all about. I was passed it, just passed it; empty, exhausted. But at that stage, with no escape, no button to push to make everything OK again…no way to hide from the alarms and wake-ups from continuously interrupted dozes - absolute exhaustion."
7/1/05 Day 41
4d 8h 37m ahead
53 47 S/126 40 W
2000 m W of Cape Horn
DS 16848.6
BS 19.42
TWS 27.1
Latest 24hr run 473.4 miles
47 knot winds not as bad as expected, sailing with storm jib and 3 reefs on direct route to Horn. Joyon was further north repairing headboard problems at this stage. Reports 20 minutes sleep in 24hr storm period.
"For now, we are soldiering on. I am numb to the tiredness as my veins are filled with adrenalin and fear. My brain is so active it cannot switch off at all."
8/1/05 Day 42
4d 17h 7m ahead
52 58 S/113 48 W
1600 m W of Cape Horn
DS 17311.8
BS 19.42
TWS 27.1
Latest 24hr run 463.1 miles
Passing through area where Nick Moloney - racing in the Vendée Globe on Skandia (ex-Kingfisher) - reported icebergs on the previous evening. Joyon had 500 mile + days from this point. B&Q racing east ahead of advancing storm.
"I've got alarms on the sea temperature. There was a zone yesterday where icebergs were spotted and I was on constant look-out all through the daylight hours."
9/1/05 Day 43
4d 20h 50m ahead
52 20 S/100 11 W
1200 m W of Cape Horn
DS 17810
BS 21.76
TWS 22.2
Latest 24hr run 498.2 miles
Personal best 24 hr run of 501.6 miles at 08:10 GMT. Unable to sleep trying to keep ahead of depression which eventually passes to the south. However, a trough peeling-off the back of this low is set to produce fierce squalls and 20ft seas within the next 24 hrs.
"We've still 10,000 miles from home. We're in a boat that's getting tired, a skipper that's getting tired - mentally and emotionally zonked."
10/1/05 Day 44
4d 22h 59m ahead
53 38 S/089 29 W
775 m W of Cape Horn
DS 18228.3
BS 14.55
TWS 18.1
Latest 24hr run 441.3 miles
Trough hits B&Q overnight with dramatically varying wind speeds and angles; indexly WSW. Frequent sail changes necessary and impossible to find an acceptable sail plan. Forced to gybe SE towards ice fields
"If the boat's not sailing how she wants to be sailed, I really, really struggle to rest."
11/1/05 Day 45
5d 0h 8m ahead
55 57 S/078 32 W
380 m W Cape Horn
DS 18642
BS 14.72
TWS 20.7
Latest 24hr run 413.7 miles
Exceeds 5 days ahead of record at 07:10 GMT. Close to iceberg fields reported by Vendée Globe competitors
"It's not going to be an easy 24 hours, that's for sure…it's all over the shop, it's going to be rough."
12/1/05 Day 46 Cape Horn
4d 2h 45m ahead
56 33 S/067 03 W
Cape Horn
DS 19060.1
BS 17.6
TWS 42.6
Latest 24hr run 403.3 miles
Rounds Cape Horn 07:46:44 GMT in a new solo time of 44d 23h 36m taking 4d 2h 45m off Joyon's time of 49d 2h 21m. 40-50 knots with 60 knot gusts at Horn, headsails only. Asleep in bunk during rounding.
"The seas are monstrous and as I stand in B&Q's cockpit, I cannot but feel that I will miss this wild and wonderful place."
13/1/05 Day 47 Falklands
4d 19h 53m ahead
51 49 S/062 33 W
70 m W of Falkland Islands
DS 19430.2
BS 19.08
TWS 21
Latest 24hr run 370.1 miles
Hits calm patch, indexsail back up as breeze increases dramatically. Passes Falklands and rendezvous with HMS Gloucester 40 miles WNW of the islands.
"I can't believe last night…the wind all but disappeared. At one point I only had 3 kts and the breeze did a full 360."
14/1/05 Day 48
4d 18h 4m ahead
46 57 S/056 15 W
385 m off Argentine coast
DS 19817.9
BS 10.73
TWS 11.5
Latest 24hr run 387.7 miles
Light airs and headwinds threaten advantage over record. Manages 3hrs sleep and 5hrs DIY; switches back to air-cooled generator, bails all water, fixes tiller, repairs rudder bearing.
"I am already having to do one or two sail changes every hour or two to keep moving."
15/1/05 Day 49
4d 5h 24m ahead
42 25 S/056 08 W
525 m NNE of Falkland Is
DS 20105.5
BS 19.11
TWS 24
Latest 24hr run 294.1 miles
Boat slamming into huge headseas. Gennaker tack slips off furling gear and hits EM in forehead, blood everywhere.
"index halyard is creaking, everything is groaning, runners are stretching and there's nothing I can do. I've tried slowing down, I've tried speeding up…I've tried everything, but the fact is we've got mountains heading towards us. This God-damned low that's been sat on our nose."
16/1/05 Day 50
3d 21h 6m ahead
40 10 S/050 17 W
500 m SE Buenos Aires
DS 20540.5
BS 16.3
TWS 28.6
Latest 24hr run 421.5 miles
Lead slips under 4 days. High pressure ridge heading east from Uruguay presents a major, potential advantage loss.
"The last few days have not just been testing, but have taken me - once again - a long way inside myself to find the strength to keep sailing safely."
17/1/05 Day 51
3d 22h 33m ahead
35 22 S/042 43 W
600 m E of Punta del Este
DS 20987.5
BS 19.85
TWS 24
Latest 24hr run 447 miles
VMG drops to 10 knots, lowest in record attempt so far. Sailing directly into windless zone of high pressure ridge which will be followed by a stationary front and then headwinds along the western limit of the St. Helena High. Nine gybes in 1.5 hours. Air-cooled generator drives up temperature on boat to high level.
"You know how tired you are, but when the winds are changing so irregularly and the conditions are changing and the seas are very bad, it's very, very hard to sleep, it's very hard to switch off and that little bit of grabbed sleep is never enough."
18/1/05 Day 52
3d 18h ahead
31 28 S/041 22 W
700 m E of Punta del Este
DS 21243.1
BS 15.19
TWS 13.9
Latest 24hr run 255.6 miles
Boat speed rarely above 5 knots overnight. Halfway between Cape Horn and Equator. Boat thrown about in head seas. Breaks through light airs, but faces passing through the front tonight.
"I've just got to get through this and out the other side and there is no point thinking about anything else right now."
19/1/05 Day 53
3d 4h ahead
29 38 S/038 13 W
720 m E of Port Alegre, Brazil
DS 21472.5
BS 8.46
TWS 10.7
Latest 24hr run 229.4 miles
Significant drop in daily run average results in B&Q being under 1000 miles ahead of Joyon after a 5 day lead 2 weeks ago. Almost becalmed stuck on S side of front, but breaks through just before midday. Tack line on Solent breaks shattering furling drum in 27 knots.
"It seems like we are chasing a front that is moving away from us. We're going nowhere…"
20/1/05 Day 54
2d 14h ahead
27 09 S/034 24 W
890 ENE of Porto Alegre
DS 21730.8
BS 11.02
TWS 28.08
Latest 24hr run 258.3 miles
headboard car torn from mast track. Lowers index, refits car. Sea too large for immediate mast climb. Fatigue levels already extreme. Rendezvous with ice patrol vessel HMS Endurance. First mast climb made up to second reef point at 69ft (21.05m) and repairs track. Second climb to required to check top of mast and reef point. Second climb up to 82ft (25.5m) to check first reef (4m from masthead) reveals only burring on track.
"My body is aching all over, my arms, legs, head, everything, even before I do this mast climb."
21/1/05 Day 55
1d 20h ahead
25 24 S/032 43 W
770 m ESE Santos, Brazil
DS 21969.5
BS 12
TWS 23.5
Latest 24hr run 238.7 miles
Tacks NW overnight to find fresh breeze as St. Helena High expands westwards with a front to the SW of B&Q. Smallest lead over Joyon since halfway point around New Year. Variable wind 17-34 knots. Constant sail changes.
"I feel like I've been beaten up this morning…stiff as hell and moving around with the speed and elegance of an arthritic robot."
22/1/05 Day 56
1d 7hrs ahead
22 36 S/030 43 W
730 m ENE of Rio
DS 22237.1
BS 4.95
TWS 5.4
Latest 24hr run 267.5 miles
Crosses shipping lanes during the night. Light headwinds and high pressure ahead with a ridge of high pressure S of the yacht and drifting N at same speed as B&Q.
"Right now I feel achy, very, very tired and a bit relieved that we've got some light winds just for a while to have a stable boat."
23/1/05 Day 57
13hrs ahead
21 03 S/029 51 W
1270 m S of Equator
DS 22367.2
BS 4.95
TWS 5.4
Latest 24hr run 130.2 miles
5 knots boat speed since midnight, shadowed by high pressure ridge. B&Q heads E to position for a good connection with Trade Winds
"It's true that the South Atlantic so far has been absolutely terrible. We could not have had much more changeable or worse conditions - but we need to remember that we're here."
24/1/05 Day 58
0h (8 miles behind)
18 18 S/028 29 W
650 m SE Salvador
DS 22554.7
BS 10.31
TWS 10.1
Latest 24hr run 187.5 miles
First time behind Joyon's time since Day 7, 4/12/04. 11.4 kts VMG needed to beat record. Third mast climb for rig check in flat calm
"I've got to hang in there for 2 more weeks, that's the way I'm thinking and I'm trying to look after myself as best I can."
25/1/05 Day 59
10h behind
15 29 S/028 00 W
600 miles ESE Salvador
DS 22745.3
BS 11.29
TWS 11.3
Latest 24hr run 190.5 miles
Overnight breeze dropped to 4 knots. Wind direction heads to NE forcing tack to NW. Speed picks-up 19:00 GMT.
"I've put everything in - my heart, my soul, my flesh, my blood, just everything. I've never pushed this hard."
26/1/05 Day 60
6h ahead
10 35 S/029 43 W
640 m S of Equator
DS 23057.7
BS 14.45
TWS 16.6
Latest 24hr run 312.5 miles
Lead drops to just 6 hours as S Atlantic weather systems wipe away the 4d 2h lead at Cape Horn. But starts to speed up taking more direct route N reaching at 14 knots in big seas and frequent sail changes. Joyon made 162 miles today, B&Q makes 388 miles.
"I'm really nervous, I'm really wound up. We had really changeable conditions last night and the boat reaching upwind is really horrible. It's just a really horrible motion; it's just really aggressive on the boat and it's really uncomfortable on the boat."
27/1/05 Day 61 Equator
1d 5h ahead
04 19 S/029 58 W
270 m S of Equator
DS 23459.7
BS 19.61
TWS 18.7
Latest 24hr run 402 miles
Crosses Equator at 21:45 GMT setting a new solo time of 60d 13h 35m taking 10h 50m off Joyon's time of 62d 0h 25m. Sets new solo Equator-Equator record of 51d 19h 15m (to be ratified by WSSRC). Extending lead over Joyon downwind with flat water. Joyon crossed Equator much further west after getting stuck pre-Equator off coast of Brazil. Gives Neptune a silver necklace.
"I gave Neptune the most precious thing I had to give to get us home."
28/1/05 Day 62
1d 13h ahead
01 43 N/029 23 W
104 m N of Equator
DS 23821.4
BS 5.99
TWS 5.8
Latest 24hr run 361.7 miles
Fluctuating winds. Boat speed decreases soon after crossing the Equator last night, but unpredicted 17-19 knot breeze fills in during the morning and Doldrums transition appears complete.
"It felt a huge relief to cross the Equator, that's for sure. Just to get in the Northern Hemisphere and to have breeze when I did as well…it was a huge relief."
29/1/05 Day 63
1d 10h ahead
06 30 N/031 20 W
680 m SSW Cape Verde Is
DS 24141.3
BS 16.36
TWS 18
Latest 24hr run 319.9 miles
Uncomfortable slamming in shifting breeze. Creaking noise from mast, but headboard car in nomal position. B&Q sails over top of whale, no contact.
"I feel I've done all I can do. So, just got to keep trucking and see what happens."
30/1/05 Day 64
1d 12h ahead
12 08 N/031 55 W
470 m SW Fogo, Cape Verde Is
DS 24480.1
BS 13.87
TWS 12.6
Latest 24hr run 338.8 miles
Hits an object overnight - possibly a fish or squid. Sails B&Q in 360° to
free object from leeward rudder; no damage. High pressure system SW of
Ireland is now focal weather system for reindexder of record attempt.
"The rudder seems fine; it wasn't massive - maybe the size of a bin bag, but I really felt the thud."
31/1/05 Day 65
2d 2h ahead
018 49 N/032 06 W
400 m WNW Cape Verde Is
DS 24888.6
BS 18.97
RWS 21
Latest 24hr run 408.5 miles
Onboard temperature cools to 23°c as B&Q heads N. Passes Cape Verde Islands and sails bow-in to swell from Trade Winds. Reports 'white rot' beneath fingernails from salt water abrasion.
"We‚re getting a bit closer everyday, bit by bit. As long as the wind keeps
blowing we’ll make it home one way or the other, as long as we don’t do
anything stupid."
1/2/05 Day 66
3d 6hrs ahead
25 59 N/030 40 W
700 m WSW Canary Is
DS 25318.5
BS 18.27
TWS 19.8
Latest 24hr run 441 miles
Fast speeds boosts pace ahead of record to over 3 days, but
high pressure two days ahead to slow B&Q.
"I'm looking forward to having a feeling in my mind where I can switch my
brain off more than anything else."
2/2/05 Day 67
3d 10hrs ahead
33 05 N/028 50 W
330 m SSW Azores Is
DS 25749
BS 19.99
TWS 23.9
Latest 24hr run 437 miles
High Pressure ahead is too large to avoid. Exhaustion levels on the limit of
endurance and physical condition deteriorating. Sailing in SE breeze,
heading NNE to pass through the centre of the Azores.
"I think I just have to be realistic and do my best. I‚ve got to sail the
boat as best I can and then the result will be visible with time."
|
