03.02.2005
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DAY 68 MEDIA RELEASE: HIGH TOLL PAID AT THE AZORES...
KEY DATA DAY 67 0710 GMT:
Distance ahead: 921 miles
Time ahead: 3 days 6 hours [representing 54.17% 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: 38 44 N / 026 44 W (15 miles E Terceira, Azores)
Average Boat speed: 0.72 knots (heading ESE)
True Wind speed: 4.2 knots (direction WNW)
Distance sailed so far: 26,102 miles at an average speed of 16.2 knots
(data communicated by Thrane MiniC via BT Business Broadband)
ETA: [Estimated Time of Arrival is based on the latest weather information available to the team today, as the weather evolves the ETA will be updated. This refers to crossing the finish line, arrival in Falmouth would be 7 to 14 hours later]
Earliest: Tuesday
Average: Wednesday
Latest: Thursday
Update based on data recorded 0710 GMT...check http://www.teamellen.com for the latest data updated hourly
IN BRIEF:
* AZORES PUT THE BRAKES ON B&Q LOSING HOURS ON THE OMEGA CLOCK reducing MacArthur's advantage to 3 days, 6 hours this morning.
* 26,000 MILES SAILED AND STILL JUST OVER 1,000 MILES TO GO, and certainly more miles to sail through the water due to the forecast wind directions.
* LIGHT WINDS, CALM, GALES, ROUGH SEAS still all to come in the reindexing few days of MacArthur's solo, non-stop round the world record attempt.
IN DETAIL:
The Azores put the brakes on B&Q losing hours on the Omega clock and reducing MacArthur's advantage to 3 days, 6 hours this morning - a high price too pay both on the record stakes but also physically for Ellen, who is now beyond exhaustion - only 20 minutes sleep in the last 24 hours, and very little in the preceding days. In order for B&Q to avoid the possibility of a wind shadow from the island of Sao Miguel to the east (with winds coming from that direction), B&Q aimed to go through the gap with Terceira on the western side, but equally to stay 15-20 miles off this island as well to avoid local effects. However the 'funnel effect' between the islands, even at 80 miles apart, caused the wind to head B&Q (come more from the north), forcing her closer in to the island on starboard tack as she approached - too close as it turned out: "Can't believe what we've been through. We stopped for two hours with two knots of breeze from the wrong direction, we were so close to the island. The breeze went into the north-west and we were heading back towards the island, only 14 miles away. We've moved some, we've stopped, we've talked about tacking, we've been taking reefs out, putting reefs in, we've had 22 knots then we've had 4 knots, then 19 knots, the whole **** fight." The boat data at 0710 this morning was grim - boat speed 0.72 knots, True Wind Speed 4.2 knots, True Wind Direction 290 degrees (WNW), 180 degrees opposite of forecast gradient win. Another call came two hours later: "Even since I last called two hours ago we've done 7 gybes [manoeuvre that turns the stern of the boat through the wind, sails switching side, fairly complicated one alone]. The wind was going round in circles, it's back now though. I'm totally drained. I hope the wind doesn't go higher, I don't want to have to change from the genoa [to a smaller headsail]. Somehow I've got to rest...going to ring Commanders and then try and sleep." It's now looking like B&Q is through as latest boat data shows B&Q moving at over 11 knots but it's going to get much lighter by tonight as MacArthur negotiates the high pressure system blocking her route ahead.
26,000 miles sailed and still just over 1,000 miles to go, and certainly more miles to sail through the water due to the forecast wind directions, this will be a long round the world. The theoretical distance being around 23,700 miles, the typical voyage being around 26,000 miles, it's a sign of the unhelpful wind conditions in the Atlantic in particular that have pushed up the overal mileage sailed around the course. Joyon passed west of Sao Miguel without slowing down too much - 212 miles Distance Made Good towards the finish today, but slow tomorrow 162 miles but from Saturday the 90ft multihull IDEC picks up the speed and from Sunday his daily mileage averages around the 400 mile mark for the final sprint to the finish line.
Light winds, calm, gales, rough seas all still to come in the reindexing few days of MacArthur's solo, non-stop round the world record attempt. The next 24-36 hour period is going to be slow as Ellen negotiates the area of high pressure and by the weekend a strong northerly gale is being forecast - 30-40 knots [Force 8 Gale] and very rough seas. Whatever the outcome, the final stretch is going to be hard - hard on the boat and hard on Ellen. Like a Formula 1 car running on empty, or a runner hitting the wall, these last miles are likely to be the toughest of them all.
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.
Still some obstacles ahead most notably a strong Northerly gale over the weekend. But in the short term a very slow period for Ellen next 24-36 hours as she makes slow progress N-NNE toward weakening high pressure. Winds likely drop down toward 5 kts late Thursday and could become light and variable for a few hours Thursday night. But relief is on the way later Friday, first in the form of a cold front which will freshen winds from the NW-N to 15 kts as the front moves thru late in the day. Then strong high pressure following this front
is going to increase Ellen's wind speeds further to 25-30 kts by midday
Saturday and likely to 30-45 kts. Saturday night coming from a northerly direction. Seas will be increasing to 15-20 feet and it will be very tough conditions beating toward the finish over the weekend. These conditions will be improving Sunday afternoon and night as the high pressure weakens and
moves eastward toward the North Sea. Her wind likely will clock thru the NE
into E and perhaps SE before she reaches the finish line.
Wind forecasts
Wind directions are TRUE, wind speed in kts, time is UTC
Thu, Feb 3- winds still shifty next 2-3 hours
09: bcmg more consistent 100-120/10-14
12: 090-110/12-10, near 40 n/26 30w
18: 080-100/ 10-5
Partly cloudy
Fri, Feb 4 - uncertain wind direction 00-06 utc
00: 080-100/ 3-6
06: lt/variable
12: bcmg 340-020/ 3-6, near 42 30n/25 w North of 43 30 winds more WNW - south of 4330 winds more N
18: 320-340/ 10-15- close to frontal boundary
Partly cloudy to mostly cloudy, maybe a brief shower or 2
Sat, Feb 5- BECOMING VERY ROUGH
00: 360-020/15-20
06: 360-020/18-25
12: 350-010/25-30, near 45 10N/17 30W
18: 350-010/30-40
Cloudy to partly cloudy- squally showers possible. Seas building to 10-15 feet
http://www.commandersweather.com
FRANCIS JOYON 24 HOUR RUNS
Francis Joyon's 24 hour runs. These are VMG distances, ie distance sailed towards the finish, not through the water:
26.1.05 IDEC 162 miles / B&Q 388 miles
27.1.05 IDEC 130 miles / B&Q 367 miles
28.1.05 IDEC 232 miles / B&Q 258 miles
29.1.05 IDEC 257 miles / B&Q 317 miles
30.1.05 IDEC 300 miles / B&Q 374 miles
31.1.05 IDEC 299 miles / B&Q 398 miles
1.2.05 IDEC 278 miles / B&Q 412 miles
2.2.05 IDEC 221 miles / B&Q 305 miles
3.2.05 IDEC 212 miles
4.2.05 IDEC 162 miles
5.2.05 IDEC 284 miles
6.2.05 IDEC 383 miles
7.2.05 IDEC 400 miles
8.2.05 IDEC 439 miles
9.2.05 IDEC 345 miles
[dates normalised to Ellen's]
PARTNER OF THE DAY : MARLOW ROPES
Official Rope Supplier to Ellen and 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
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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