13.01.2008
Temenos II finally hits the front
With a glance at the first rankings of the day, it's easy to see that the
weather must have changed over Temenos II, the skies clouding over and the
barometer dropping. Finally caught up by the front, the monohull hasn’t needed
any persuasion to lengthen its stride and make the most of the conditions to
build on its advantage over Mutua Madrilena. Flashed at an average of over 20
knots, or 3 knots faster than the Spanish boat, we can guess that Michèle and
Dominique, literally trapped ahead of the front for the past three days, are
relishing the opportunity to show off the true potential of their boat.
Since yesterday, the atmosphere has radically changed aboard Temenos II, and
during the daily radio session you really had to listen hard to make out
Dominique’s voice over the noise of the waves crashing on the roof of the boat.
Below 52° South, with the renewed threat of ice and the pitch black night with
an inexistent outside visibility, the duo is keeping an increased radar watch.
Despite this though, the pair is visibly relieved to have finally hit the front
and be able to battle against the comeback by Mutua Madrilena, and it is in this
way that Dominique answered our questions this morning.
“The front has finally met up with us. We have between 27 and 30 knots of wind.
The seas aren’t very bad, but they are beginning to swell and we’re getting
increasingly shaken about. We're going fast, the boat surfing on a virtually
permanent basis. The cockpit isn’t really accessible as it's continually being
swept by the waves. During the watches we reindex seated in the companionway and
we constantly adjust the trim of the pilot. We correct the boat's trajectory
according to the surfs and the little variations in the wind. The deck is
permanently under water; fortunately the little water leaks around the forehatch
and the engine saildrive were effectively plugged in Wellington and the keel
repair hasn’t budged.
It’s pitch black outside. We’re on constant radar watch every 10 minutes. We’re
expecting to have to reduce the sail area again as the wind is set to fill in a
notch in a few hours time. Whoever is off watch stays in their boots and foulies
under a sleeping bag, ready to rapidly intervene on deck if need be. This front
should enable us to make headway at a quick pace for several days yet, before
leaving us at around 1000 miles from the Horn.”
Kate Jennings
Expression.
P.O. Box 26,
Dartmouth,
DEVON.
TQ6 0YG
United Kingdom
+44 (0)7795 116699
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