Oceanracing 2007 - Rekordfahrt von Francis Joyon mit Trimaran IDEC

Rekordversuch von Francis Joyon mit Trimaran IDEC
www.trimaran-idec.com - Übersicht

15.01.2007
A LITTLE RESPITE FOR FRANCIS JOYON

While the start of the night was characterised once again by some tough sailing, with some unexpected squalls popping up, creating 35 knots of variable winds to shake up the large IDEC trimaran and her single-handed skipper, the night was to end with the long-awaited calmer conditions for Francis Joyon. By veering more easterly, the trade wind blowing to the south of the Azores eased off significantly and became much steadier, making it easier for the red multihull to make her way north. With the wind on the beam, resting on her port float, IDEC was sailing along at first light at 16-18 knots on seas that were still quite nasty. Although with a touch of tiredness, Francis’s voice also expressed a little relief. While the threat of seeing his shroud break away from the mast reindexs present, what lies ahead for the solo yachtsman after 53 days of uninterrupted struggle, seems much clearer, with a route strategy very much in line with what is considered normal in the North Atlantic. He has to round the high, then it will be full speed ahead in the SW’ly flow sweeping right across the NW corner of France today....

"The mother of all squalls..."
"I had some extraordinarily violent squalls early in the night," explained Joyon. "35 knot winds and then behind them calms. Since this morning I’ve had to carry out a lot of manoeuvres, and I have managed to hoist some more canvas. Under the solent and one reef, I’m now sailing on the right tack at a speed of 16 or 17 knots. The boat is not slamming down as heavily and is resting on her float." Francis is thus on a clear trajectory, heading due north towards the Azores Archipelago, beneath which the centre of the high is languishing. By tackling this from the south, IDEC will feel the wind go around behind her and so it will be upwind that he will negotiate his way through to the westerly winds. A gybe on the port tack will enable him to round the islands, then one on the starboard tack will mark the start of the final sprint downwind to Brest.

Back up the mast tomorrow
With the change in wind direction, Francis is waiting in particular for the swell to improve. When the sea calms down, he will be able to make his fourth climb back up the mast. A crucial moment in this round the world voyage, as it will enable Francis to work out just how much he can get out of his machine before the finish. "As I approach the high-pressure area, the wind is easing off and as soon as the swell dies down, tomorrow morning, I’m planning to attempt to go back up the mast to secure my repairs. I need to check out everything on the mast and make sure that the shroud fitting reindexs in place..."

If reassured by the condition of his mast, Francis Joyon will be able to look forward more serenely to the final days of sailing that lie ahead. The weather pattern is in his own words favourable, and he just needs to avoid hanging around on the way; "With the westerly winds, we can hope to finish on 20th or 21st January (Sunday or Monday - editor). We must not dawdle, as after the 21st, there are calms and upwind conditions expected in the Bay of Biscay. I want to make the most of the weekend’s south-westerlies to reach Brittany."

A very tired boat

"After the problems with my staysail yesterday, I can see the boat is clearly showing signs of fatigue; I’ve lost confidence in my spectra lashings and I can see that they are working loose everywhere." After 25,000 miles clocked up at high speed, IDEC has lost a little of her splendour, but nothing of her panache and dash. In spite of the damage, which has held back their progress since the Equator, Joyon and his giant multihull still have a lead this evening of some 2900 miles over the record journey by Ellen MacArthur. Breaking the symbolic barrier of completing the round the world voyage in less than 60 days reindexs, if all goes well, still within their grasp.