Trophée Jules Verne 2005
Morning Press Release – 0600 GMT
Paris, Tuesday 22 February 2005
ORANGE II MIDWAY ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC...
While we sleep, it is broad day light on the other side of the planet. That is
precisely where the maxi-catamaran Orange II is as it continues its high speed
dash across the Pacific Ocean. The figures speak for themselves: during this
morning’s radio session at 0400 GMT, Orange II was clocked at 32.4 knots of
instantaneous speed and it is indextaining an average speed of 30 knots. No
less than 626 miles have been made over the last 24 hours, at an average of
26.1 knots... Bruno Peyron’s crew is clearly still on the attack in fairly
manageable seas and a wind enabling them to make high speed in the right
direction. The boat is filing along towards Cape Horn which it may reach by
Friday. As a result their lead over the record times around the world set by
Steve Fossett’s crew may extend still further during the 3 days which precede
the passage of the legendary cape. After one more day in these latitudes on
the lookout for the danger of icebergs, Orange II will begin to distance itself
from this ice convergence zone. For the time being the whole team is
concentrated on the quest for pure speed, the key to which may be a new record
for the Southern Pacific crossing in a few days time...
Extracts from this morning’s radio session with Bruno Peyron :
“The wind and sea
conditions that we are encountering at the moment are enabling us to make pure
speed and continue to attack the Southern Pacific. We are well placed forward
of a warm front, on the edge of the ice convergence zone, likely to begin to
use a rotation in the wind that will clock round in a favourable direction. We
haven’t got a big swell enabling us to make long surfs, but the seas are very
manageable and the waves are such that our giant can easily make 33-35 knots of
boat speed.
We’re continuing to keep a lookout for icebergs as 3 growlers were
encountered here during the Vendée Globe and the water is at 5° so we’re being
careful... The depression that has been with us since Australia is continuing
to carry us along. It should follow us until the Horn and perhaps even after
it as it joins up with another depression that will climb up to the NE after
the Cape.
At the passage of the Horn, we may suffer a little as the wind will
clock round to the W forcing us to make a few tacks. If all goes according to
plan though, we may be able to round the Horn on Friday morning and get another
two days ahead of Fossett’s record time. Any forecasts are received with
caution... The boat is really running very well and its speed is even beyond
the speed polars recorded this summer. I am not surprised by the fantastic
potential of this boat, but I didn’t expect to exploit it as much as we have
and be able to attack in this way. The conditions are allowing us to
permanently exploit between 90 and 100% of the boat’s potential...”
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