07.11.2005
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DAY 3: NO REST FOR THE WICKED AS THE NEXT STORM AND THE FRONTRUNNERS CLOSE IN
IN BRIEF:
* SILL ET VEOLIA APPROXIMATELY 120 MILES NORTH-EAST OF CAPE FINISTERRE AS JOURDAIN AND MACARTHUR PREPARE FOR NEXT STORM
* SILL ET VEOLIA HOLDING SLIM LEAD OVER MIKE GOLDING’S ECOVER
* MODERATING CONDITIONS SINCE THE START ALLOWS SOME RESPITE
“LOTS OF SAIL CHANGES AND NO TIME FOR REST”
IN DETAIL:
Going into the third day of the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre Roland Jourdain and Ellen MacArthur are pushing the Open 60 Sill et Veolia south towards Cape Finisterre at an average speed of 10 knots. So far the newer generation of Open 60s and class favourites, Sill et Veolia, Ecover, Virbac and Bonduelle have all managed to live up to expectations taking the top four slots on the leaderboard. Skandia (formerly MacArthur’s Open 60 Kingfisher) is heading up the ‘2000’ generation, holding fifth place ahead of Thiercelin’s Pro Form. After covering just over 400 miles in tough upwind conditions over the last 48 hours, the 12 Open 60 monohulls are now spread over a 100 miles, although less than 10 miles separates the top three boats. Sill et Veolia hold a slim lead of 5.2 miles over Mike Golding’s Ecover and 9.4 miles over Jean-Pierre Dick’s Virbac in third.
Sill et Veolia is currently sailing in more moderate 10-15 knot winds today giving MacArthur and Jordain the opportunity to gain some much needed sleep as well as having the first proper meal of the race. At around 1230 GMT today, Sill et Veolia tacked back onto port tack in order to gain some westing to clear Cape Finisterre 120 miles away and to push through the next cold front expected during the early hours of Tuesday morning. This will mean another long night sailing upwind in heavy airs, changing sails to reduce sail area as winds increase to 30-35 knots again. However, through the front the wind will change to the north-west and reduce to around 20 knots allowing the sailors to ease the sheets and enjoy the downwind conditions and a rapid passage south past Portugal and into the trade winds.
Email from Ellen onboard:
All pretty changeable out here, we had a tough race start and the wind has been everything from 5 to 55knots. We have not spent much time in the bunks, indexly sleeping in waterproofs on the floor. The first front was pretty full on and the maximum wind strength we saw was 55 knots, but the boat is ok and it is nice to finally see the sun. For a while last night we had some company, as we passed the traffic separation scheme at Ushant, a fishing boat came to see us and waved, after which several dolphins came to follow the boat as we heeled along. Its been a case of lots of sail changes and tacks this morning as we have been trying to get ourselves into the new wind. We thought things would be quieter last night and we'd have time to rest a little, but we were no so lucky, as everytime either one of us slept, it seemed that we were woken by the other far too quickly! We have both just had a some soup, which is the second hot meal since we've left and I've just sent Bilou to bed for an hour. The wind hasn't reached over 20knots yets, although within 12 hours we'll should have about 45. The boat is fine, as are we (if not a little knackered!). But there is no rest for the wicked tonight either, as we enter the next front and have the frontrunners chasing at our heels...
Thanks!
E and B
OPEN 60 RANKINGS 1500 GMT:
1. SILL ET VEOLIA / DISTANCE TO FINISH MILES 3897.5
2. ECOVER / + 5.2 MILES
3. VIRBAC-PAPREC / + 9.4 MILES
4. BONDUELLE / + 18.8 MILES
5. SKANDIA / + 36.4 MILES
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION LOG ONTO: http://www.jacques-vabre.com
For further information, please contact Offshore Challenges Sailing Team:
Lou Newlands or Lucy Harwood
T: +44 (0)870 063 0210
E: lou.newland@ocgroup.com or lucy.harwood@ocgroup.com
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