19.11.2005
SKANDIA WINS THE RACE-LONG BATTLE WITH PRO-FORM TO TAKE 5TH PLACE
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IN BRIEF:
* SKANDIA CROSSES FINISH LINE AT 15:14:11 GMT in a time of 14 days, 1 hour, 14 minutes and 11 seconds...
* SKANDIA DUO OF BRIAN THOMPSON AND WILL OXLEY finally win the race-long battle against Pro-Form to take 5th and is first of the older generation Open 60s to arrive in Salvador de Bahia...
* AFTER 4340 MILES racing across the Atlantic only 25 minutes separated SKANDIA from Mike Golding’s Ecover in 4th place...
* SKANDIA’S Vendée Globe skipper, NICK MOLONEY, flies to Brazil tomorrow night to get ready to bring SKANDIA back on his own… Since losing the keel off Rio during the last Vendée, Nick is determined to finish his mission and
complete the circumnavigation solo. He will sail SKANDIA from Rio to the Vendée finish port of Les Sables d’Olonne without assistance. Latest information online at http://www.nickmoloney.com
SKANDIA FINISH DATA:
Arrival Date: Saturday 19th November 2005 at 15:14:11 GMT
Elapsed time: 14 days 1 hr 14 minutes 11 seconds
Average boat speed on theoretical route of 4,340 miles: 12.87 knots
Average boat speed on the water over actual distance sailed of 4,605m: 13.66 knots
Distance from winner: 15hrs 55 mins 09s
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Fotos: Offshore Challenges Sailing Team
So macht Segeln Freude
Gut ausgerüstet- alles o.k.
Die Skandia im Sturm
Die brasilianische Küste in Sicht
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FROM BRIAN AND WILL AFTER THE FINISH:
Talk us through your last 24 hours…
We were level with ECOVER between the Equator and Fernando de Noronha, probably ahead of them for about a couple of hours during the night, and then they shot away from us and PRO-FORM was further to the east and had a good angle in towards Brazil, and she was just catching us up. So yesterday we were just fighting to stay ahead of PRO-FORM, and in the morning suddenly we wondering about catching ECOVER, it was unbelievable. We really had an incredible night.
Brian Thompson
Were you surprised at the speed you pushed SKANDIA at?
I was really pleased - especially right at the start we were keeping up with SILL and VIRBAC upwind for a little while. Downwind I think we’re really fast, we took a lot of weight off the boat and took fewer sails than we could have had. A couple of times we were missing sails but overall it was probably good because in the light downwind yesterday we were just flying, going about a knot faster than PRO-FORM and ECOVER. The boat’s fantastic, there’s a lot of life left in her. It was fun to be close enough to the front to still feel like you’re part of the game, like you’re in with a chance the whole way and the boat sailed really well. I think reaching those new boats are definitely faster maybe by a knot, sometimes 2 knots to us, but downwind I think we’re as quick as anyone!
Brian Thompson
How are you and Will feeling physically?
Really good - we had a tough night yesterday, hand-steering with total 100% concentration the whole night as we saw PRO-FORM were right there so we really gained on that. So we didn’t get too much sleep last night but I physically feel really good - I feel healthier than when I left actually. We’ve been drinking lots of water and doing lots of exercise – it’s been great and I’m very happy to have arrived in Salvador, the boat looks in good shape and I can only see the masts of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 boats here - so we’re the sixth boat to finish in the whole fleet. So that’s pretty good - I’d say this race has been a real success for Will and I.
Brian Thompson
How did you find sailing an older generation Open 60 against the news boys?
She’s a magnificent boat and we always had the right sails up for the conditions so never any concerns there – we felt very safe indeed. She’s a very sea-worthy boat and I was sailing with such a good person that I could happily sleep when I was off watch, which is also very important.
Will Oxley
And sailing with Brian proved to be a successful combination?
I’d say we were 100% compatible. I’ve obviously sailed with a lot of people and it’s as good as anyone I’ve ever sailing with, and hopefully the feeling’s mutual. There was a lot of ‘hey you haven’t eaten for a while’ or ‘you haven’t slept for a while’ or ‘it’s time you had a sleep’, and making sure each of us stayed hydrated and that obviously paid dividends because we’re quite a bit fitter than when we left and I don’t think we’ve lost much weight at all.
Will Oxley
IN DETAIL:
Finally the duel came to an end... At 15:14:11GMT SKANDIA skippers Brian Thompson and Will Oxley won their race-long battle against PRO-FORM and crossed the finish line in 5th place in the seventh edition of the 4340 mile Transat Jacque Vabre race, in an elapsed time of 14 days, 1 hour, 14 minutes and 11 seconds. They even came close to stealing fourth place from Mike Golding’s Ecover who managed to cross the line just 28 minutes earlier.
For the majority of this race, SKANDIA and PRO-FORM sailed by Marc Thiercelin and Eric Drouglazet, were the leading two second generation boats and were effectively match-racing their way across the Atlantic. After spending the majority of the race in 5th place, SKANDIA fought hard to keep their top five position which is where they aimed to be from the start: “To be in the top five was our objective at the start and we have achieved that so we are happy.” Will Oxley.
Thompson and Oxley also managed to not lose touch with the four leading new Open 60’s ahead, occasionally getting close enough to Mike Golding’s Ecover to make it a three-way brawl. Even today with 20 miles to the finish line, SKANDIA was just 12 miles behind Mike Golding and Dominique Wavre on ECOVER who finished 28 minutes ahead in fourth place at 14:46 GMT (14d 46m 25s).
At 2319GMT last night VIRBAC-PAPREC took victory, closely followed 35 minutes later by SILL ET VEOLIA at 2354GMT. Ten hours, 10 minutes later, BONDUELLE completed the podium at 0929GMT this morning.
The seventh edition of this race has been run in record time and the pace of this two-handed race has surprised many – no longer is it days between boats arriving but a matter of minutes or hours. It shows the full potential of how these new generation Open 60s can perform with two on board. For SKANDIA it was a real triumph to coax every ounce of speed out of their older generation boat (built for Ellen MacArthur’s 2000/01 Vendée Globe) and is a true reflection of the racing skills of both Thompson and Oxley to return home with this prize for their shore team.
SKANDIA’S RACE SUMMARY:
(NB: Day = 1500GMT-1500GMT)
DAY 1: THEY’RE OFF!
After crossing the start line in 7th, SKANDIA moves up to 6th by the final racemark. A tough first 24 hours for the fleet as they make their way through the English Channel, with strong SSW winds in excess of 40 knots.
“Mixed bag first 24 hours: good start and good speed through the night.”
DAY 2: SKANDIA 6TH AFTER LOSING GROUND (27.7nm to leader SILL ET VEOLIA)
The Open 60 fleet pass through the cold front bringing a windshift to west allowing them to tack south past Ushant and head in to Bay of Biscay. SKANDIA loses miles after finding a large 20 metre rope wrapped around the keel and daggerboard...
”We found 20m of 150mm diameter rope wrapped around keel twice!! We backed down and eventually got hold of an end and unwrapped it. Phew!”
DAY 3: SKANDIA 5TH AS FLEET APPROACH COLD FRONT (36.4nm to leader SILL ET VEOLIA)
SKANDIA overtakes PRO-FORM during the night moving up to 5th. Fleet tack to the west in Bay of Biscay, as wind becomes SW ahead of the second approaching cold front.
“All day the wind is going to be steadily building into the mid 30s. By 3am the cold front should arrive with 40 knot gusts. After the passage through the cold front we will be tacking south and easing sheets, conditions then getting better all the time..."
DAY 4: HARDCORE SAILING ONBOARD SKANDIA (SKANDIA 4th, 32.6nm to leader VIRBAC-PAPREC)
SKANDIA moves into fourth place overtaking BONDUELLE as fleet head south towards the Portuguese coast. Extreme conditions overnight with 45kt winds and 7m swell cause carnage to multihull fleet as four ORMA 60 multihulls retire.
"Ocean racing can be HARD CORE very hard core. I was reminded of that last night in a big way...the Bay of Biscay last night turned it on for us...pitch black driving, spray and occasional rain, 6m waves and SKANDIA constantly dropping off waves. We drive with a crash helmet and spray visor, it is the only way we can see anything...”
DAY 5: SKANDIA 5TH HOLDS ON TO LEADING PACK (54.5nm to leader VIRBAC-PAPREC)
SKANDIA holds on to leading pack who break away from rest of fleet as they continue on the drag race south heading for islands of Madeira. Wind eases off allowing SKANDIA skippers to dry off in the sun and work on boat indextenance.
"Life seems very sedate (and dry) in comparison to yesterday’s screaming reach on the edge of control...My wrists are still sore today from holding on tight trying to avoid wiping out as waves hammered up continuously."
DAY 6: SKANDIA AND PRO-FORM BATTLE FOR 5TH ONLY 2 MILES APART (98.2nm to leader VIRBAC-PAPREC)
SKANDIA IN 6th takes longer easterly course steering clear of Madeira Archipelago rather than risk wind shadow from the islands. Just 2 miles separate SKANDIA and PRO-FORM. Overnight unexpected strong breeze hits SKANDIA as exhausted skippers hand steer and sail change in 35mph winds.
“I found myself closing my eyes and nodding off while steering at 23 knots...more and more I was relying on my sense of balance rather than sight to drive the boat through the waves...”
DAY 7: SKANDIA 5TH AND GAINING ON BOATS IN FRONT (155.2nm to leader VIRBAC-PAPREC)
SKANDIA overtake PRO-FORM overnight clearing Canaries without gybing. SKANDIA picks up speed and makes gains on 4th placed ECOVER 30 miles ahead.
“We’ve now got around 25-30 knots of wind, and hooning along at 20 knots! We’re really pleased to be up with the big boys - we’re in 5th place, one of the top boats, which is where we hoped to be...”
DAY 8: SKANDIA 5TH PROPELLED SOUTH TO CAPE VERDE ISLANDS (190.7nm to leader VIRBAC-PAPREC)
SKANDIA and the other leading Open 60’s charge south clocking impressive boat speeds. Ecover lose section of their starboard rudder after hitting something, not effecting speed hugely as they extend slightly on SKANDIA.
"Still fast and furious action here in a seascape that looks more Southern Ocean that languid trade winds. Our race is as fast and close fought as ever as we race to stay up with Ecover and ahead of ProForm.”
DAY 9: SKANDIA GAINING ON ECOVER AS THEY PASS HALFWAY MARK (174.5nm to leader SILL ET VEOLIA)
SKANDIA reaches halfway stage during the night as fleet indextain record-breaking boat speeds.
“We’re managing to hold off PRO-FORM and sneak a few miles out of ECOVER. easy to loose 5th if we are not careful and possible to snatch 4th if lucky”.
DAY 10: SKANDIA HOLDING ON TO 5TH AS PRO-FORM CLOSS THE GAP (161.6nm to leader VIRBAC-PAPREC)
SKANDIA fighting hard to keep 5th place with PRO-FORM nine miles behind. Make successful repair to 3m tear on jib top sail. Fleet continue sailing south in lighter airs and unstable conditions but through fairly inactive Doldrums.
“We have lost a few miles lately but we are putting that down to bad luck with the patchy wind. We are, as always, pushing as hard as we can and trying to eke out every last bit of boat speed..."
DAY 11: SKANDIA 5TH CLOSING IN ON ECOVER IN FOURTH (89.6nm to leader VIRBAC-PAPREC)
SKANDIA come within 0.1nm of Mike Golding and Dominique Wavre on Ecver. PRO-FORM make huge gains, now seven miles behind SKANDIA. Fleet compress as leaders slow through Doldrums passage - less than 100nm separate top six.
DAY 12: NEPTUNE CALLS (SKANDIA 5th, 119.9nm to leader VIRBAC-PAPREC)
SKANDIA crosses the Equator. SKANDIA duo Brian Thompson and Will Oxley are happy to leave behind the squally conditions of the Doldrums, whilst hanging on to Mike Golding’s tail coming to within less than 1 mile at 0300GMT.
“Time for some Mumm Champagne, for all three of us - me, Will and King Neptune...”
DAY 13: SKANDIA 5TH BATTLING WITH ECOVER AND PRO-FORM (211.9nm to leader VIRBAC-PAPREC)
SKANDIA passes Island of Fernando de Noronha with Brazilian coastline 270 miles away. The fight for fifth continues.
“Proform is still slowly running us down as they sail in with a better angle from offshore and we are going to have a real battle all the way to the finish.”
DAY 14: SKANDIA AND PRO-FORM SET FOR A PHOTO FINISH (211.4nm to leader VIRBAC-PAPREC)
SKANDIA 5th 1.9 miles ahead of PRO-FORM and taking the inshore route with PRO-FORM four miles further offshore.
“The battle is really on with PRO-FORM and she is right on our outside hip - it’s going to be full concentration on both boats until the finish...”
FINAL DAY: 1300GMT
SKANDIA had closed the gap on ECOVER to just 12.4 miles but not enough of the course left to get passed as ECOVER crosses line at 1446 GMT followed by Brian and Will at 1514 GMT – only 28 minutes apart. Not bad for an older generation boat!
SKANDIA FINISH DATA:
Arrival Date: Saturday 19th November 2005 at 15:14:11 GMT
Elapsed time: 14 days 1 hour 14 minutes 11 seconds
Average boat speed on theoretical route of 4,340 miles: 12.87 knots
Average boat speed on the water over actual distance sailed of 4,605m: 13.66 knots
Distance from winner: 15hrs 55 mins 09s
For latest positions: http://www.jacques-vabre.com/pages_uk/classement.html
Official race website: http://www.jacques-vabre.com (English & French websites)
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NOTES :
* Skandia Set Sail aims to offer people more opportunities to participate in the sport on a broader level. Its objectives are to make sailing more accessible, grow the sport's reach and enrich peoples' lives through the sport.
* Skandia's Set Sail portfolio is divided into three groups: events; teams and athletes.
* Events include: the title sponsorships of Skandia Cowes Week, the world’s oldest and largest regatta on the Isle of Wight, UK (title sponsors for 10 years in 2004); Skandia Geelong Week in Victoria, Australia - now twinned with Skandia Cowes Week; the Skandia Brown Cup (the Scottish Schools Sailing Championship) and Skandia Cowes Youth Week, a leading international match racing championship.
* Teams include: the Skandia Maxi, Australia's biggest ocean racing yacht and line-honours winner of the 2003 Sydney-Hobart Race.
* Athletes include: Star class yachtsmen Iain Percy and Steve Mitchell and Sam Davies, the up and coming single-handed yachtswoman and her Figaro campaign.
* Sail 4 Cancer is the official charity of the Skandia Set Sail programme www.sail4cancer.org
* For further information contact www.skandiasetsail.com
* Skandia in the UK launched in 1979 and is now one of the UK's leading financial services groups providing pensions, investment and protection products through intermediaries in the UK and overseas. Creators of the multimanager approach, Skandia has teamed up with the world's top fund managers to create a range of funds tailored for investors' individual needs.
* Parent company, Skandia Insurance Company Limited, is one of Europe's oldest insurance companies. It has developed and evolved constantly over the years to reach its present position as one of the world's leading long-term saving companies with operations in over 20 countries and assets under management exceeding £56 billion (as at 31.12.04). For more information on Skandia Insurance Company Limited visit www.skandia.com
* For more information on Skandia in the UK visit www.skandia.co.uk
Issued by Skandia Life Assurance Company Limited. Registered Number: 1363932 England.
Registered Office: Skandia House, Portland Terrace, Southampton, SO14 7EJ
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