11.02.2005
ORANGE II OFF THE KERGUELENS TONIGHT
After just 18 days of racing, Bruno Peyron's Orange II maxi-catamaran is accelerating again and heading due east towards the Kerguelen Islands, which they should pass on the northern side during the night. Sailing at an average speed of almost 25 knots since early this afternoon, the giant Orange II is currently feeling the first effects of the low-pressure area they were expecting, which should generate north westerly winds taking them all the way to Cape Leeuwin (Australia). In spite of easing off a little yesterday, which allowed the crew to carry out a check-up of the boat, they are still more than 3 days ahead of Cheyenne and Géronimo's times and have been keeping up the average speed since the start to 22.3 knots.
During today's radio session, the skipper of Orange II, who had just rewarded himself with two hours of sleep under the duvet, talked about the conditions they were experiencing in the deep south and about his strategy for the next few days. Bruno Peyron: «We're starting to pick up the north westerlies that we had been waiting for, and that should allow us to pick up some speed over the next few hours. In fact, we were forced to slow down because of the ridge of high-pressure, which was not moving fast enough and that we reached each time we stepped up the speed. That seems to have sorted itself out now, as we're beginning to feel the first effects of the front of this low-pressure area, which I'm hoping will take us all the way to Australia.»
Extracts from today's radio session with Bruno Peyron and Bernard Stamm :
Pit Stop:
«During our pit stop, yesterday, the crew of Orange II carried out a complete check-up on the boat. The mast, rigging, inside the hull, pulleys, travellers and indexsail head were all given the once over. We changed the fittings on the indexsail head, which were starting to wear. Apart from that, the boat seems in perfect condition.»
Progress:
«I never stop thinking about it, as it's the only thing that keeps me going. Knowing how we can do better tomorrow. Imagining that the progress could one day come to an end is not very pleasing from an intellectual standpoint. I'm convinced that technological progress, time and the knowledge acquired by man can only move forward.»
The storms:
«We could always find ourselves facing a huge storm, like in 1993, as the seas and winds are still as powerful in the deep south. However, a lot has changed over the past ten years. Firstly, there has been enormous progress in weather forecasting, and the charts are more accurate than at that time. The first big storm (75-knot winds and 15-metre troughs) that we experienced in the Jules Verne Trophy in 1993 was down to a mistake I made. What we know today about the weather conditions allows us to understand better the various weather patterns and anticipate them. We are sailing today aboard bigger boats, which are better able to face up to the strength of the waves. Finally, we have learnt to sail in these extreme conditions and we feel safer on these giant cats.»
The Jules Verne Trophy:
«The historical aspect of the Jules Verne Trophy is down to its timeless quality. I was lucky to be the first to grab it in 93, then for a second time in 2002. Today, the men on board are less attentive to labels and pay more attention to what they are doing and to sheer performance.»
Alain Prost :
«It is not out of the question that we could one day sail together. We already talked about it in Marseilles. Alain is a fan of speed, technology and performance and while he hasn't yet mastered all the skills required, I'm quite sure he could learn very quickly. In any case, he could adapt to our sport more quickly than I could to his.»
Bernard Stamm.
The 60 foot Open skipper talked at the start of the radio session: «I'm highly impressed by this wind machine. You get used to sailing at high speed very quickly. The boat is a marvel to steer. It's a bit like a sporting cat. At 30 knots aboard my monohull, it's really a battle, while on board Orange II, you really feel perfectly safe. Bruno gave me a great opportunity by allowing me to take part in this adventure. He's a real leader of men, and everything is going very smoothly on board.»
Data :
Day at sea: 19th
Date : 11/02/2005
Time (GMT) : 11h00
Latitude : 48 19.64' S
Longitude : 62 22.44' E
Recorded speed: 21.3 knots
Recorded bearing: 97
Average speed: 22.1 knots
Speed over 24 h: 19 knots
Distance over 24h : 457 miles
Speed since the start : 22.3 knots
Total distance : 9637 miles
Reindexing distance : 15479.70 miles
Lead on day 18:
— J. Verne record: +1762 miles (ahead)
— absolute record: +1744 miles (ahead)
Internet : http://www.maxicatamaran-orange.com
Morning Press Release
Paris, Friday February 11 2005 – 6 : 00
Flat out towards Australia
Orange II is still flirting with the howling fifties, close to the ice
zone limit, in rather hostile climatic conditions. Yet this does not
affect the crew’s high spirit, boosted by the 3 and a half-day lead
over the record. After 18 days at sea, such a situation is beyond
expectations. Especially now, since after having spent a few difficult
days sailing betweens ice blocks, islands and calm zones, Orange II
will now be able to sail flat out on a direct route…
Bruno Peyron, Friday 5:00 AM: “We just gybed, because we’re sailing too
fast! The high pressure cell does not move as quickly as we do. We
headed towards the south-east for 2 or 3 hours, in order to catch the
wind shift, and once this is done, we’ll be able to head east, which
will have us pass in the North of the Kerguelen Islands. It wouldn’t be
of any interest to sail under the archipelago. Then, we’ll follow the
ice convergence line for 4 days, which is equivalent to the orthodromic
route. Everyday, the time difference increases by one hour, so we have
to adapt our biological rhythm. This, plus the fast Atlantic descent,
the cold temperature outside and the short nights, explains the
tiredness felt aboard. Nights are getting longer though, roughly 6 to 7
hours now (…) And we’re getting used to the cold. Three days ago, we
had the same temperature but today we’re coping better with it – except
for the stand-by watch, who have to sleep outside. When it’s actually
8°C, due to the apparent wind, the temperature drops to –5°C… But we
can get used to that also.
Even though we’re sailing a straight course, there are still many
manoeuvres to perform on deck, and we’re getting better everyday. The
guys just did a superb gybe. For the next 4 days, we’ll have a
classical sails reduction sequence, depending on the wind force: we’re
currently carrying 240 sq.m. of sails, and we’ll go through all the
various possible combinations and reductions… There’s always something
going on aboard Orange II (…)
To be honest, at first I never thought we’d have such a lead over the
record (3,5 days). My ambition was to be in the pace of the previous
benchmark time, and to attack at times, just enough to round the Horn
with a little advantage. Our situation today goes beyond my
expectations… And if our lead reaches 4 days by the time we get to
Tasmania (mid-course), it’ll be great. We’re indextaining a good average
speed since the start, despite some weather systems that have not
always been favourable. Yet, we seem to be faster than the fastest boat
on the planet…"
Key figures
Day at sea: 18
Date: 02/11/2005
Time (GMT): 04:00
Latitude : 47 50.36’ S
Longitude : 59 42.28 E
Instant speed: 20.2 kts
Instant heading: 76°
Avg speed: 21.7 kts
Avg speed over 24 hours: 18,3 kts
Distance over 24hours: 438 mn
Avg speed since the start: 22,4 knots
Distance covered: 9406 nm
Reindexing distance: 15708.8 nm
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Internet : http://www.maxicatamaran-orange.com
Radio sessions: Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1.15 p.m. GMT at
Orange race headquarters and live on Internet. Wednesday’s broadcast
will be a live video link on Internet and on Orange mobile handsets.
PC Course Orange : Fédération Française de Voile
17, rue Henri Bocquillon
75015 PARIS
(Métro Boucicaut)
Audio: Apart from the radio session three times a week, an audio
recording is made every morning at 5 a.m. with the boat.
These recordings can be heard and downloaded in MP3 format in the press
section of the website: www.maxicatamaran-orange.com
For any individual requests, please contact Bénédicte Etienne on 06 87
30 12 83
Boat’s positions:
The position of the boat is updated every quarter of an hour on the
website: www.maxicatamaran-orange.com
The records Orange II has to beat
– The Jules Verne Trophy, held since 29th April 2004, by Olivier de
Kersauson and the crew of the trimaran Geronimo, in 63d, 13h 59mn.
– The absolute round the world record held since 5th April 2004, by the
American Steve Fossett, in 58d, 09h, 32mn.
Orange II’s most recent records
– The world 24 h record (706.2 miles covered at an average speed of
29.42 knots),
- The Mediterranean Record (17h 56mn and 13s, at an average of 25.53
knots).
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About Orange ...
Orange, a subsidiary of France Telecom, is one of the global leaders in
mobile telephony. Orange France is the leading operator in mobile
telecommunications in France with a market share of 47.7% and more than
21.3 million clients on 31st December 2004.
index partners: Orange, France Telecom
Local authority partners: City of Marseilles, Marseilles Metropolitan
Authority
Official supliers: TD Com, International Peinture, Henri Lloyd, UKHO,
Lomac, Yamaha, Nera, Valderas Consulting, Telemar Scandinavia, Aramid
Rigging, Southern Spars.
Press contacts for the Orange Maxi-Catamaran:
Bénédicte Etienne - C Sports Communication / 06 87 30 12 83 -
benedicte.etienne@csports.fr
Freely available photos (for free press use) :
www.maxicatamaran-orange.com (press section)
Video production for the Orange Maxi-Catamaran:
Arnaud de Belinay : +33/(0)6 84 84 14 71 - debelinay@therace.org
Official Photographer: Gilles Martin-Raget : +33/(0)6 07 55 45 85 -
gmr@martin-raget.com
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