14.11.2007
Rivacom http://www.rivacom.fr/
http://www.bernard-stamm.com
http://www.rivacom.fr/index.php?page=event&event=stamm&article=2575
Cheminées Poujoulat approaches the Doldrums
The intertropical convergence zone, better known as the infamous Doldrums, could deal a new hand to everyone in the race. In the leading group, Cheminées Poujoulat has taken the decision to route further west than the three leaders: three boats busy with controlling their own race, but all could yield to the strategies of their close pursuers. We'll know by tomorrow afternoon…
In the last 48 hours, Bernard Stamm and Tanguy Cariou have gained two places in the overall ranking. At midday on Monday, Cheminées Poujoulat was sixth, 80 miles behind race leader Ecover.
This afternoon, with the Cape Verde Islands behind her, Cheminées Poujoulat was fourth; the yellow and black Open 60 leading Michel Desjoyeaux and Emmanuel le Borgne on Foncia by a short head. Even so, Bernard and Tanguy have gained only 10 miles on the leader, and are now 70 miles from the British boat.
But it's still all to play for as the leading Open 60s head for the infamous Doldrums. They should reach this unpredictable and disturbed climatic anomaly either tonight or tomorrow morning, when a gap of 70 miles will become a relatively minor consideration in these notoriously difficult waters…
Every competitor wants, and needs, to cross the intertropical convergence zone as quickly as possible (it's likely to take 36-48 hours), and the fastest route through is going to be its narrowest point. The lateral positions of the boats relative to each other could then be much more decisive than the distances between them.
For the time being, Mike Golding and Bruno Dubois on Ecover are indextaining their due south heading, torn between a desire to head west, where the wind seems more stable, and the fear of letting the two boats to their east escape: Kito de Pavant and Sébastien Col on Groupe Bel and, more crucially, Loïck Peyron and Jean-Baptiste Levaillant on Gitana Eighty.
Both men onboard Cheminées Poujoulat are in it to win it, and are acutely aware of the challenge ahead. “What makes it all so complex is preparing as well as we can to get through the Doldrums, at the same time as maximising any opportunity to attack our opponents”, says Tanguy Cariou.
“Now the Cape Verde Islands are behind us, the whole fleet is lining up to get through the Doldrums in the most advantageous way. The clouds are beginning to gather, and we will have to cope with every change as well as we possibly can”, adds Bernard Stamm. “The big question is when should we stop tracking westwards? Whoever is furthest east when the time comes to attack the trade winds will be in a good position”.
Once through the Doldrums, the fleet should be right on course to exploit the well-established southeast trades in the southern hemisphere, when the race will become a speed test all the way to Brazil. We'll know within 48 hours!
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